Abstract

This research was undertaken to assess the influence of poultry droppings in soil on the heavy metals uptake by fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) and water leaf (Talinum triangulare). Water leaf and fluted pumpkin leaves grown on a soil treated with poultry droppings have been analysed for four (4) heavy metals: Iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The result showed that, the concentration of the analysed metals ranged from iron (6.83 to 4.83), zinc (2.81 to 1.68), copper (1.83 to 0.72) and lead (0.23 to 0.20) ppm. The concentrations of all the metals in the leaves of the two plants sampled from the treated soil were generally higher when compared with those from the untreated soil (control). Possible explanation offered for the observed result include the fact that, though the poultry droppings may not contain high amounts of heavy metals, it is assumed that their organic nature could help in chelating and solubilizing the heavy metals in the soil thus making them more bioavailable than is the case with the control. The results of this study showed that, the concentration of all the heavy metals in the two plant leaves from the amended  soil fell below toxic levels though they were significantly (P < 0.05,) higher than those from the control.

Key words: Heavy metals, poultry droppings, Telfairia occidentalis, Talinum triangulare.