“The contribution soil heavy metals pollution to the cause of destruction of the coconut palm in some selected areas of the Central Region of Ghana”: (A case study in Ajumako-Enyan Essiam to Bobikuma).

Abstract

Contaminations of soil by heavy metals are extremely threatening to both plant and animal lives. This study looked at the levels of heavy metals in the soils and stems of the coconut plantation farms from Ajumako-Enyan Essiam through to Bobikuma in the Central Region of Ghana and assessed its possible contribution to the destruction of the plant. One hundred soil and one hundred stem samples were collected. Heavy metals that were analyzed in these samples were Zinc, Iron, Copper, Nickel, Chromium, Lead, Manganese and Cadmium. Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (Shimadzu 7000 AS) was used to analyze the samples after the samples were digested. From the findings, the

pHs of the soil were within acceptable limit for plant growth set by the WHO standard except soil sample site 10 for the wet season. For organic carbon, the data obtained shows that some sample sites (6 and 8) for the dry season and sample site (1, 2,3,4,6 and 7) had higher levels of organic carbon than the acceptable limit which 0.5-3.5 is set by WHO. The findings of electrical conductivity proves the soil on the various sites were non saline. The levels of cation exchange capacity proves the soil had adequate levels of the ions in the soil. Concentration of some of the selected heavy metals like Fe during the dry season in the soil samples exceeded the WHO standard for plant growth. For the stem samples, Fe, Zn, Cu and Pb having high levels of heavy metals in some sample sites. Finally, comparing the result to an unpublished thesis on where the coconut are dying, it can be seen that heavy metals might be a contributing factor to the death of the coconut palm.