Sediment physicochemical properties of Maa-Dee-Tai River System in Sogho community, Ogoniland, Rivers State, Nigeria

River sediments act as pollutant sinks resulting in changes in physicochemical properties of the sediment which eventually impacts the quality of overlying waters. This study examined some physicochemical parameters in sediments from Maa-Dee-Tai River system in Sogho Community, Ogoniland, Rivers State, Nigeria using appropriate standard techniques. Data obtained revealed that the physicochemical parameters recorded given in range, mean and standard deviation were total organic carbon TOC [(3.88±0.10-4.13±0.04 (3.92±0.18) %], pH [4.99±0.015-5.39±0.042 (5.18±0.037)], conductivity ([174.8±2.81-79.25±45.8 (127.5±21.90) µS/cm], Cl-[7.35±0.32-9.18±0.388 (8.28±0.42) mg/Kg], salinity ([12.2±0.46-15.18±0.917 (13.7±0.70) mg/Kg], NO3- [0.77±0.1-0.841±0.066 (0.81±0.08) mg/Kg] and PO43- [7.12±0.05-7.96±0.33(7.44±0.21 mg/Kg)] respectively. Sediment particle size distribution indicate that the river bed has a higher proportion of clay [clay (82±1.12%) > silt (9.33%) > sand (6.58%)]. Considering the physicochemical characteristics of the River system, it was revealed that the River is acidic and has high level of phosphate which could be a pointer to increased growth of algae and large aquatic plants. This study is timely since the Maa-Dee-Tai River system in Sogho Community, Ogoniland, Rivers State, Nigeria has no published report on its environmental status. Hence, the present research is to provide baseline data for developing water and sediment quality index of the coastal zone in the Songo territorial waters. This River is not a recipient of any industrial and municipal wastes and therefore strict environmental policies should be enacted by the community leaders to maintain the natural state of the river system.