Physicochemical, Nutritional and Biochemical Impact of Cow dung on heavy metal Polluted Quarry Mining Site. A Case Study of Ishiagu Mining Site
C. T. Onyema *
Microbiology Unit, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, Nigeria.
K. Osuoha
Biochemistry Unit, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, Nigeria.
J. O. Osuoha
Biochemistry Unit, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, Nigeria.
A. V. Iwueke
Biochemistry Unit, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, Nigeria and Department of Biochemistry University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Nigeria.
C. Ejileugha
Microbiology Unit, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study evaluated physicochemical, nutritional and biochemical impact of cow dung on heavy metal polluted quarry mining site using standard analytical methods. Physicochemical results shows an increase in soil pH, temperature and other physicochemical parameters in the mining site relative to control (P≤0.05). Nutritional studies shows increase in vitamin, mineral and phytochemical composition of vegetables treated with cow dung while biochemical assay indicates a reduction in high density lipoprotein as well as liver enzyme concentrations compared to control (P≤0.05). Findings from this study reveals the nontoxic potentials of these vegetables planted in cow dung amended soils. This also indicates these vegetables when grown in cow dung amended soils have reduced phytoaccumulation potentials to heavy metals. This however may be due to nutrient availability and hence we recommend that cow dung may be a remediating, non-phytotoxic agent in heavy metal polluted sites.
Keywords: Biochemical impact, phytotoxic agent, heavy metals, nutrition