Title: Relationship Between Soil Physico-chemical Parameters and Trace Element Concentrations in Clay Loam Soil in West EL-Fashir City, North Darfur State, Western Sudan
Abstract: Monitoring of trace elements in soil provides efficient way to assess the qualitative and quantitative differences in element concentrations at different sites within a region. The aim of the study was to assess levels of trace elements regarding accumulation of the metals, as well as investigate whether of the soil factors (chemical and physical) which influence trace element concentrations in soil. The physico-chemical parameters (viz. pH, EC, MC, OC, and textural class) and trace elements concentrations i.e Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn have been determined in the soils from caly loam region in west AL-Fashir city, Western Sudan. The top soil of this region is predominantly loamy sand. The soil pH varies within the acidic or slightly neutral and range between 6.62 – 7.72. The EC values were found to vary between 0.155-0.360. OC is very low (mean 0.081±0.007). MC range between 0.230 – 0.430%. Average trace element concentrations decreased according to: Fe-Co-Ni-Cr-Zn. The sub-soil of this region is predominantly loamy sand. The soil pH varies within the range 6.02-7.10. The EC values were found between 0.162-0.275. OC is very low (mean 0.093+0.020). MC range between 0.230-0.430%. Average trace element concentrations decreased according to: Fe -Mn-Cr-Zn. The t-test showed that, elemental pairs: Ni-Cd, Cd-Cr, Mn-Cr, Pb-Cd, Cu-Cr, Cu-Cd, Cu-Mn, Zn-Cd, Fe-Mn, Fe-Pb, Fe-Cr, and Fe-Mo were showed significant differences in their concentrations in the study region, top-soil. In the top-soil, pH was high positively correlated with silt (r=0.760), whereas in the sub-soil, pH was highly positive correlated with EC (r= 0.755). The extraction of trace elements from soils of North Darfur for industrial use (especially, Fe, Cr and Cu) should be investigated.