PHYSIOCHEMICAL

This study assessed the physiochemical and heavy metal properties of gully erosion site in Evbhomore Community, Benin City, Edo State. Water and soil samples were collected into sterile plastic container to avoid additional contamination before taken to the laboratory for physicochemical and heavy metal analysis following standard procedures. Physicochemical characteristics of soils samples showed that clay ranged from 24.00 ± 1.92 - 36.00 ± 2.96 %, silt (24.00 ± 1.92 - 33.00 ± 2.83 %), sand (33.00 ± 2.83 - 51.00 ± 3.89 %). pH ranged from 6.70 ± 0.50 - 7.88 ± 0.93, organic matter (0.91 ± 0.37 - 2.00 ± 1.00 %), organic carbon (0.51 ± 0.25 - 0.89 ± 0.37 %) and total nitrogen (0.01 ± 0.00 - 0.05 ± 0.00 %). Electrical conductivity ranged from 4.12 ± 1.45 - 4.81 ± 0.36 µS/cm, available phosphorus (150.00 ± 5.00 - 180.00 ± 5.74 mg/kg) and total exchangeable bases (1.60 ± 0.42 - 1.99 ± 0.69 cmol/kg). In soil samples, cadmium values ranged from 0.16±0.13 - 0.30±0.13mg/kg, Lead (1.26 ± 0.33 - 3.50 ± 0.51mg/kg), Zinc (25.12 ± 2.82 - 79.02 ± 3.29 mg/kg), Copper (27.89 ± 2.49 - 63.08 ± 3.68 mg/kg), Iron (191.16 ± 5.07 - 212.16 ± 5.92 mg/kg) and Manganese (10.80 ± 0.49 - 18.00 ± 0.81 mg/kg). Soil and land cover contributed 12% and 6% respectively to gully erosion in the study area. The occurrence of soil erosion risk in the study area has also been on the increase and is not limited to a particular area but all part causing serious land degradation affecting a wide variety of soils prone to crusting and/or piping. The widths and depths of gully erosion increased with the increase in slope gradient and decrease with increase in percentage of vegetation cover, especially during the rainy season and confirm that soil erosion in the study area has altered vegetation cover, ground slope, slope length and shape. There is therefore the need for protective strategies and measures for sensitive management of the environment to reduce erosion rates and increasing water conservation

This study assessed the physicochemical and microbial characteristics of sediments from the Orhionmwon River, Edo State. The result of the average mean concentration of the physicochemical and microbial parameter are 5.03 ± 0.20( PH), 43.67 ± 10.44 µS/cm, 1212.61 ± 165.52 mg/kg (calcium), 287.33 ± 93.92 mg/kg (Magnesium), 297.91 ± 81.39 mg/kg, (Potassium) 161.62 ± 32.71 mg/kg (sodium), 0.05 ± 0.01 (Nitrogen), 0.51- 0.16 (TOC), 92.18 ± 2.39(sand), 5.94- 2.38(clay), 1.88 - 0.03(slit), 27.24 ± 10.41(THC), 4.00 ± 1.01 (THC), 1.52 ±0.31(THF), 73.11 ± 11.39( E.coil), and 187.78 - 36.46 (coliform) respectively . Sand and slit showed no significant difference (p>0.05), why pH, EC, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, nitrogen, TOC, clay, THC, THB, THF, E.coli and coliform respectively exhibit a significant difference (p <0.05) across the three sampling stations . The study concluded that the microbial parameters in the sediments were very high. The findings highlight both natural geological influence and serious human impact, posing a clear public health risk. It recommends regular sediment monitoring and urgent improvements in waste management to protect both the environment and community health.

This study assessed the physicochemical parameters and heavy metals content in sediments from Orhiomwon River, Edo state, Nigeria. A total of nine (9) sediment samples were collected from the sampling stations from May, 2025 to July, 2025. Physicochemical parameters of sediments were analysed following standard laboratory procedures while selected heavy metals were determined following the method of the association of analytical chemistry. The average mean concentration of physicochemical and heavy metals parameters of sediments were 5.03±0.20 (pH), 43.67±10.44 (EC), 1212.61±165.52 (Ca), 287.33±93.92
(Mg), 297.91±81.39 (K), 161.62±32.71 (Na), 0.05±0.01 (N), 0.51±0.16 (TOC), 92.18±2.39 (sand), 5.94±2.38 (clay), 1.88±0.03 (silt), 2366.74±817.55 (Fe), 18.92±4.58 (Cu), 69.20±19.63 (Zn), 0.04±0.06 (Cd), 6.66±1.48 (Pb), 33.55±23.38 (Mn), 1.49±0.47 (Cr) and
27.24±10.41 (THC) respectively. Heavy metal concentrations followed the order: sand, silt and cadmium showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) across the three stations. On the other hand, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), calcium, magnesium, total organic carbon (TOC), clay, manganese, chromium, and total hydrocarbon content (THC) exhibited significant differences (p < 0.05) while potassium, nitrogen, sodium, iron, copper, zinc and lead showed a high significant difference (p<0.01) among the sediment samples from the different stations of Orhiomwon River. Fe>Zn>Pb>Cu>Mn>Cr>Cd. The results obtained in
this study showed that natural geochemical processes remained the dominant influence on Orhionmwon River sediments as signs of human activity especially from anthropogenic activities are evident.

Water is one of the elements and the necessity that most major global to the daily life. The physico-chemical properties of the upstream, midstream and downstream of Udu River in Delta State, Nigeria were investigated in this work. The properties
were compared to the World Health Organization (WHO). The physico-chemical properties considered and their average values are pH (7.06 ± 1.01), temperature (31.33 ± 0.58℃), turbidity (10.22±1.10 NTU), alkalinity (8.77±0.68 mg/L), electrical conductivity (140.03±62.50 𝜇S/cm), dissolved oxygen (2.67±0.25 mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (1.65±0.35 mg/L), total dissolved solids (79.82±35.61 mg/L), total suspended solids (0.87±0.56 mg/L), nitrate (5.19±0.51 mg/L), chloride (6.67±2.96mg/L), bicarbonate (2.51±0.27 mg/L), sulphate (1.13±0.32 mg/L), chemical oxygen demand (16.00±5.29 mg/L), phosphate (8.06±4.34 mg/L), total hardness (15.61±2.13 mg/L), iron (0.77±0.12 mg/L), zinc (0.01±0.01 mg/L), Chromium (0.18±0.07 mg/L), manganese (0.07±0.06 mg/L), copper (0.03±0.00), sodium (0.70±0.00 mg/L) and potassium (0.82±0.00 mg/L). The values of the
physico-chemical properties in comparison with the WHO standards of portable water indicate that Udu River needs to be constantly monitored in order to preserve its quality for safe consumption.