TY - JOUR AU - Etukudo, Mbosowo M. AU - Osim, Samuel E. PY - 2022/09/01 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Mineral Elements in Colocasia esculenta L. Schot and Soil Characteristics around a Major Construction Site in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria JF - Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Applied Science Research JA - NIJOPHASR VL - 11 IS - 3 SE - Articles DO - UR - https://nijophasr.net/index.php/nijophasr/article/view/479 SP - 8-12 AB - <p><strong>Background:</strong> Mineral elements in Colocasia esculenta L. Schot and soil characteristics were examined around a<br>major construction site in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. This study was conducted to examine the effects of<br>construction activities on chemical properties of soil and mineral element contents of the test crop.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> The study area was sectioned into the construction site (S1 and S2) and the control site (S0). Plant<br>materials and soil samples obtained from the three experimental locations were analyzed for mineral nutrients and<br>physico-chemical characteristics, respectively, using standard procedures.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The results of this study revealed that the pH values of location 1-S1 and location 2-S2 were significantly<br>lower than that of location 0 (S0)-control. The contents of organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus,<br>calcium and magnesium significantly (P&lt; 0.05) increased with increase in distance from the construction site. The<br>nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium contents in C. esculenta significantly (P&lt; 0.05) increased with<br>increase in distance from the construction site. The potassium, copper, iron and lead contents in plant material<br>decreased with increase in distance from the construction site.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study suggests that the construction activities have negative effects on the test crop (C. esculenta)<br>due to the toxic pollutants usually generated from such operations. Therefore, toxic wastes generated during<br>construction operations should be properly disposed without contamination to cultivated soils.</p><p>&nbsp;</p> ER -