Modeling of zinc in Amaonye Forest soil of Ishiagu communities in Ebonyi State of Nigeria

Abstract

In this study, Geostatistical technique was applied to model and predict the spatial variation of zinc (Zn) in Amaonye forest soil in Ishiagu communities in Ebonyi State. 605 soil samples were collected at depths of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 cm from all grid intersection points in an area of 1km x 1km gridded at 100 m grids. These samples were analysed in the laboratory for zinc to form the baseline data. Variograms modeling and Kriging interpolation were carried out with ArcGIS geostatistical extension to show the distribution of the metal on concentration maps for the study area. The study shows that the forest soil was heavily polluted with Zn, with a similar spatial distribution in all layers with highest accumulation of the metal around the stream and the forest portions to which the stream water had flowed. The variogram (CO/C) ratio showed moderate spatial dependency from the values of 29.7% at 10 cm, 27% at 20 cm, 28.7% at 30 cm, 29.3% at 40 cm and 29.7% at 50 cm. This pointed partly to anthropogenic activities connected with mining as a source of the observed pollution.