Physico-chemical parameters and some heavy metals analysis of water samples collected from Shella Fadama, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria

This study was carried out to investigate the physicochemical parameters and some heavy metals concentration of Shella Fadama, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto to determine its water quality for agricultural purpose. The Fadama water was sampled and analyzed using standard methods. The range of the monthly values of the physicochemical parameters studied were temperature (23.1-37.2 oC), pH (6.2-7.3), turbidity (25.3-30.3NTU), electrical conductivity (120.1-268.7 µS/cm), Dissolved Oxgen (DO) (2.8-4.0 mg/l), Biological Oxygen Demand (5.1-10.6 mg/l), nitrate-nitrogen (0.06-1.08 mg/l), phosphate- phosphorous (0.04-0.19 mg/l) and total hardness CaCO3 (2.01-10.00 mg/l). The values of the heavy metals studied (Cu, Fe2+ and Zn) were in the range of (0-0.04mg/l), (0.01-1.36mg/l) and (0-0.82mg/l) respectively. All the parameters of the samples and the heavy metals studied showed no significant difference (p>0.05) except in nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) and Zn (p<0.05). All the values of the parameters at the period of study were within the limit set by FEPA, (1991) USEPA (1991) and FME (2001) for irrigation purpose except turbidity and BOD which are slightly above these standards. Some of the mean periodic values of Zn concentration are also slightly above the USEPA (1986) standard. However, the Shella Fadama during the study period is safe for agricultural activities.