Baseline-Referenced Changes in Potentially Toxic Element Concentrations in Mining-Affected Soils after Maize and Tomato Cultivation in Ijesha, Osun State, Nigeria
Keywords:
Artisanal gold mining; potentially toxic elements; maize; tomato; soil concentration; experimental controlsAbstract
This study describes potentially toxic element (PTE) concentrations in composite soils from five artisanal gold-mining communities in Atakunmosa West Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria, before and after 90 days of maize (Zea mays L.) or tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivation. Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and As were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Each community was represented by one field composite, and the three reported values for each site-treatment combination were treated as repeat analytical readings rather than independent field observations. Final measurements from the unplanted control pots were unavailable. Initial concentrations were heterogeneous across sites. Relative to the initial means, maize-associated decreases occurred in 28 of 30 site-metal combinations and ranged from 16.8% to 95.8%; tomato-associated decreases occurred in 29 of 30 combinations and ranged from 8.9% to 96.4%. Concentrations increased for Cu in maize-treated Ibodi soil and for Zn in both treated Igila soils. These values are descriptive baseline-to-day-90 changes, not control-adjusted removal efficiencies. Without final unplanted controls, independently traceable pot-level data, plant-tissue concentrations, biomass measurements and a soil-plant mass balance, the observed changes cannot be attributed specifically to plant uptake or used to establish phytoremediation performance. The dataset therefore supports a preliminary description of concentration changes after cultivation and identifies requirements for a confirmatory experiment.
Downloads
References
Adegbite, B. A., Osuolale, T. O., Arowolo, A. D., & Akinloye, K. F. (2023). Agro-economic damages assessment of artisanal gold mining in Ijesa Land, Osun State. Journal of Agricultural Science and Practice, 8(1), 7-15. https://doi.org/10.31248/JASP2022.394
2. Anggraini, Z., Nurliati, G., Pratama, H. A., Sriwahyuni, H., Sumarbagiono, R., Shadrina, N., Mirawaty, M., Pamungkas, N. S., Putra, Z. P., & Yusuf, M. (2025). A critical review about phytoremediation of heavy metals and radionuclides: From mechanisms to post-remediation strategies. Chemosphere, 381, 144475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144475
4. Deng, S., Zhang, X., Zhu, Y., & Zhuo, R. (2024). Recent advances in phyto-combined remediation of heavy metal pollution in soil. Biotechnology Advances, 72, 108337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108337
6. ISO. (2006). ISO 11464:2006 Soil quality - Pretreatment of samples for physico-chemical analysis. International Organization for Standardization.
7. Kyowe, H. A., Awotoye, O. O., Oyekunle, J. A. O., & Olusola, J. A. (2024). Index of heavy metal pollution and health risk assessment with respect to artisanal gold mining operations in Ibodi-Ijesa, Southwest Nigeria. Journal of Trace Elements and Minerals, 9, 100160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemin.2024.100160
9. Parida, T., Riyazuddin, S., Kolli, S. K., et al. (2024). Phytoremediation of heavy metal(loid)s with integral involvement of the endogenous metal-chelators: Present state-of-the-art and future prospect. Discover Environment, 2, 139. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-024-00170-x
10. ASTM International. (2019). ASTM D4972-19: Standard Test Methods for pH of Soils. ASTM International. https://doi.org/10.1520/D4972-19
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 B. A. Esho, W. A. Ibraheem, A. A. T. Taleat, A. A. Ewuola, M. Animashahun
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the Academic World Journal of Scientific and Engineering Innovation the right of first publication. Published articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction, provided appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and source.
