Assessment of chromium and nickel in agricultural soil: implications for sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Fertilizers in soil management can alter soil physical, chemical and biological compositions, and introduce trace elements such as chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) into the agricultural soils. The carcinogenic tendencies of these trace elements at elevated concentrations in plants, animals and humans make it a serious concern. Soil samples from a farm in Ota, Southwest Nigeria wereanalysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results indicate that the farm's nickel (Ni) is within the permissible limits, while chromium (Cr) concentrationsexceeded the WHO/FAO allowable limits. Nickel has a mean value of 47.12 mg/kg in the soil, while chromium has a mean value of 152.20 mg/kg. These toxic elements' contamination assessment result has shown the descending order of Ni>Cd in the studied farm. The toxicity of nickel and chromiumin soils causes chlorosis, stunted rootsand inhibits plants growth.