Papers by PAUL OJO FATOBA
Widespread contamination of cultivated lands with heavy metals increase human exposure to contami... more Widespread contamination of cultivated lands with heavy metals increase human exposure to contaminated agricultural products. The study investigated soil levels and transfer of Cu, Pb and Cd into leaves and barks of different citrus species in 35- and 11-year old orchards in north-central region of Nigeria. Heavy metals concentrations in soils were below permissible limits but greater than background concentrations (Cu = 2.27 mg kg -1 , Pb = 0.25 mg kg -1 and Cd = 3.9 mg kg -1 ). Geo-accumulation index (I geo ) indicated that the 35-year orchard (orchard I) soil was uncontaminated with Cu (Cu -Igeo = -0.43), uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with Pb (Pb -Igeo < 0.39) and moderately contaminated with Cd (Cd -Igeo = 1.65). The 11-year old orchard (orchard II) soil was uncontaminated to moderately contaminated (I geo for Cu, Pb and Cd was ≤ 1). Bioavailability of the heavy metals soil of orchards I and II were ≥ 30%. Levels of Cd and Pb in bark and leaf tissues were above th...
This paper assessed biochemical parameters in leaves of selected ornamental species growing in ur... more This paper assessed biochemical parameters in leaves of selected ornamental species growing in urban areas of southwest Nigeria to obtain the air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API) for classification into tolerant and sensitive species against air pollution. Four sites and three ornamental species (Polyalthia longifolia, Thuja occidentalis and Duranta repens) common to the sites were used for this study. Results showed significant variations in biochemical variables, hence biochemical parameters cannot be used solely to categorize the species. APTI values obtained suggested that P. longifolia is tolerant species to air pollutants while T. occidentalis and D. repens are sensitive species that can be used as bioindicators of air pollutants. The API value revealed P. longifolia and T. occidentalis to be poor performer and very poor performer respectively while D. repens cannot be recommended for greenbelt development. Therefore, T. occidentalis and...
The present study has used soil samples from Nigeria, contaminated with Brass crude-oil, to deter... more The present study has used soil samples from Nigeria, contaminated with Brass crude-oil, to determine its biodegradation through enhanced biostimulation with cow dung and periodic aeration. Over a period of twenty-eight days, the hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria (HUB) and hydrocarbon-utilizing fungi (HUF) have been counted and identified. Results from biodegradation of the brass crude-oil over the aforementioned period show that amended crude-oil-spiked soil has had 54.82% degradation while for amendment and periodic turning this has been 55.90%, not significantly higher than the former at p≤0.05. Also degradation of spiked soil without cow dung amendment has been 16.13%. The identified HUB are Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Streptococcus thermophillus, with individual occurrence of 18.52% as well as Proteus vulgaris and Micrococcus luteus with 11.11% and 14.81% occurrence, respectively. Also, the occurrence rate of HUF like Aspergillus flavus, A...
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2021
Contamination of agricultural soil with cadmium (Cd) has become a global concern because of its a... more Contamination of agricultural soil with cadmium (Cd) has become a global concern because of its adverse effects on ecohealth and food safety. Soil amendment with biochar has become one of the phytotechnologies to reduce soil metal phyto‐availability and its potential risks along the food chain. Biochar, derived from cocoa pod, was evaluated in soil Cd fractions (exchangeable, reducible, oxidizable, and residual) by modified Commission of the European Communities Bureau of Reference sequential extraction and its efficacy to ameliorate Cd toxicity to soil enzymes and leaf bioactive compounds. A pot experiment was conducted using Cd‐spiked soil at 10 mg/kg with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) at a biochar application rate of 1 and 3% (w/w) for 6 wk. The addition of biochar significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the exchangeable, reducible, and residual fractions by at least approximately 23%, with a consequential decrease in Cd root uptake and transport within tomato tissues. The activity of soil enzymes (catalase, dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and urease) was affected by Cd toxicity. However, with the exception of dehydrogenase, biochar application significantly enhanced the activity of these enzymes, especially at the 3% (w/w) rate. As for the secondary metabolites we studied, Cd toxicity was observed for glutathione, terpenoids, and total phenols. However, the biochar application rate of 1% (w/w) significantly ameliorated the effects of toxicity on the secondary metabolites. In conclusion, biochar demonstrated the potential to act as a soil amendment for Cd immobilization and thereby reduce the bioavailability of Cd in soil, mitigating food security risks. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:3306–3316. © 2020 SETAC
Scientia Agriculturae Bohemica, 2021
This study assessed early-season effects of spontaneous wildfires on soil fertility and weed dive... more This study assessed early-season effects of spontaneous wildfires on soil fertility and weed diversity in two managed plantations – cashew and teak – in Ilorin, Nigeria. Soil pH and nutrients in the topsoils and subsoils of burned and unburned plantations plots after a spontaneous wildfire were analysed. Species diversity and similarity were determined based on the composition and abundances of weed flora two months post-fire. The fire effects on soil nutrients and weed composition in the plantations were evaluated using the canonical correspondence analysis. Burns incidence significantly improved the organic carbon, organic matter, and Ca contents while reducing total N and Mg in both plantations. Twenty-eight weed species were distributed in 9 angiosperm families. Fire differently affected weed composition, abundance and diversity in the plantations. Burning improved soil organic carbon and organic matter contents and restricted Tephrosia bracteolata, Desmodium tortuosum, Danielli...
Environmental Research, Engineering and Management, 2017
Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2020
Journal of Biotechnology, 2020
Ruhuna Journal of Science, 2019
Notulae Scientia Biologicae, 2013
Anatomical studies were carried out on the leaves, stems and roots of Amaranthus hybridus subject... more Anatomical studies were carried out on the leaves, stems and roots of Amaranthus hybridus subjected to irrigation of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% concentrations of pharmaceutical effluents to identify the responses of this plant to the treatment. Leaf structures of A. hybridus showed no significant change due to the effect of the effluents. Significant reduction was observed in the trichome density and number of epidermal cells at the adaxial surface as from the 20% effluent concentration upward (p
International Journal on Applied Bio-Engineering, 2016
Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Belgrade, 2016
In this study, wetland species growing naturally in the surrounding of two crude oil facilities w... more In this study, wetland species growing naturally in the surrounding of two crude oil facilities were sampled and screened for their phytoremediation potentials for zinc, lead, nickel, chromium and cadmium in soil. Concentrations of metals in the root and shoot samples of the wetland species alongside the rhizosphere soil were determined. Metal accumulation in wetland species exceeded the permissible limits, but it was still within phytotoxic thresholds except for chromium. The use of a bioconcentration factor and a transfer factor to screen the wetland species for phytoremediation potentials identified six out of the eight studied species as multi-elemental phytostabilizers of metals in soil. In addition, five of the eight wetland species displayed potentials for phytoextraction of metal, though there was no multi-elemental phytoextractor among the wetland species. Paspalum vaginatum, Andropogon tectorum and Kyllinga squamata portend potential abilities to phytoextract nickel. In ad...
Environmental and Experimental Botany
Anatomical features of leaves of two plants (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach and Sida acuta Burm. F... more Anatomical features of leaves of two plants (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach and Sida acuta Burm. F.) growing around a cement factory were studied with the aim of examining the leaf epidermal modifications that enhance their tolerance and continued survival in the presence of cement dust pollution. P. purpureum showed no anatomical modifications to the pollution which may indicate that the dose-response level of the pollutants has not been reached in the grass. There were significant modifications in the stomatal size, density and index of leaves of S. acuta exposed to cement dust pollution. The observed modifications of stomatal features in the forms of reduced stomatal size and increased stomatal index in the leaves S. acuta from cement polluted area could be favourable anatomical adaptations to polluted environment. And these responses could be used as biological markers for the presence of cement dust pollutants in the leaves of S. acuta.
Environmental and Experimental Botany
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus) were grown on cement-polluted... more Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus) were grown on cement-polluted soil in a greenhouse under ambient conditions and natural photoperiod. Plants were harvested two months after planting and their roots and above ground parts were cleaned and separated. Heavy metals (Cu, Zn and Cr) in roots, shoots and soil samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. There was no significant difference in total accumulation of Cu and Zn in biomass between the two vegetables. However, significant differences in their partitioning were observed. Both vegetables exhibited large transfer of Cu and Zn from soil to roots, but translocation of Cu to above-ground parts was significantly reduced for both species. Translocation of Zn to above-ground parts in amaranth plants was relatively high, but it was restricted in tomato. Cr uptake was significantly restricted within roots of tomato whereas roots of amaranth did not accumulate Cr. These findings showed th...
Field sampling of two prevalent weeds (Sida acuta and Pennisetum purpureum) growing on cement-pol... more Field sampling of two prevalent weeds (Sida acuta and Pennisetum purpureum) growing on cement-polluted soil was carried out seasonally to assess the root and leaf contents of Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd and Zn. Concentrations of heavy metal in corresponding soils (total and bioavailable) were also determined and data generated were used to calculate the respective transfer factors (TFs) and translocation indices (Tis) of metals in the weed species. The results of the TFs and Tis were used to evaluate the potential ability of these weed species to accumulate heavy metals in their tissues and suitability or phytoremediation. Findings indicated that S. acuta and P. purpureum are suitable for phytostabilization of Cr, Cd and Zn in cement-polluted soil while Cr and Cd can be phytoextracted by these two weed species from cement- polluted soil.
This study was aimed at assessing atmospheric depositions of heavy metals around Nigerian NNPC de... more This study was aimed at assessing atmospheric depositions of heavy metals around Nigerian NNPC depots using the moss (Barbula lambarenensis). Concentrations of 7 elements (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr, Fe and Zn) were determined in the moss samples by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry analysis. Nickel concentrations in the moss samples across the depots, except Mosimi NNPC depot were highest (p<0.05). A comparison of the metal depositions among the depots revealed that elemental contents of the mosses were significantly the same (p<0.01) in all the depots except for Cd and Cu in Ibadan and Mosimi NNPC depots respectively. This could be attributed to fact that Ibadan depot is situated close to residential areas with major input of Cd from domestic wastes incineration while Mosimi depot serves several other depots around it, so vehicular activities was greater and also the release of Cu. Generally, the pollution level of these depots is high and this calls for their proper monitor...
Journal of Industrial Pollution Control
An investigation into the potentials of duckweed and water hyacinth as possible biomonitors of aq... more An investigation into the potentials of duckweed and water hyacinth as possible biomonitors of aquatic environment was carried out in River Asa. Water, duckweeds and water hyacinths were collected from six different locations along River Asa. The water and plant samples were analysed for physicochemical and heavy metal contents with standard methods. Result showed that temperature ranged from 25.35 to 31.20 °C. pH was high at site 1 and low at 5. Site 2 was more turbid (21.35 N.T.U.) and TSS range was 182.0 – 218.4 mg/L. BOD and COD ranges were 7.78 - 13.90 mg/L and 129.00 - 150.30 mg/L respectively. Dissolved O2, alkalinity and total hardness ranged between 12.00 and 20.32 mg/L, 5.41 and 16.90 mg/L, 12.90 and 14.40 mg/L respectively. Phosphate and nitrate levels ranged between 0.44 and 3.43 mg/L, 0.64 and 1.41 mg/L respectively. Of all the heavy metals in the plant tissues, Cd and Cr levels were highest. Except for Pb, no significant difference exists in heavy metal levels within t...
87 moss samples with the entrapped thin soil particle/dust layers on the substrates were collecte... more 87 moss samples with the entrapped thin soil particle/dust layers on the substrates were collected from different locations in guinea savanna and tropical rain forest biomes of Southern Nigeria during the dry season of the year 2007. The moss plants sampled were identified and the collected samples(plants and entrapped soil) were digested and analyzed for Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cd and Cr concentrations with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric Method so as to assess the bio monitoring potentials of these mosses. The concentrations of the different heavy metals of the entrapped soil particles on the substrates and moss plants were correlated with Carl Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient. Identification of the moss plants showed Barbula lambarenensis, Hyophila involuta, Thuidium gratum, Octoblepharum albidium and Calymperes afzelii. B. lambarenensis and H. involuta were the most encountered species in the collected samples and they also occurred on the most polluted substrates. The results of ...
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Papers by PAUL OJO FATOBA