Comparative Analysis of Nitrates, Sulphates and Phosphates Levels in Soil from Selected Farmlands in Kaiama and Imiringi in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The levels of sulphate, nitrate, and phosphate in soil samples taken from farmlands in Kaiama and Imiringi communities in Bayelsa State Nigeria, have been determined. Soil samples were taken from various depths using hand auger and analyzed for the above mentioned plant nutrients content. For the month of September, both Kaiama and Imiringi control sites had values for nitrate and phosphate greater than those in the farmlands at all depths. In contrast, the values of sulphate in the farmlands were greater than those in the control. In October, the values for sulphate and phosphate were greater in the control in all cases while nitrates were greater in the farmlands. Comparatively, the November results had all values greater in the control soil than in the farmlands in Imiringi while Kaiama showed higher values for only phosphate and sulphate in the control but lower values for nitrates in the control than in the farmlands, at all depths. When soil depths are compared, values of phosphate and sulphate increased with increasing depth in the control and the farmlands in both communities. Conversely, the opposite trend was observed for nitrates during the study period. The statistical analysis showed significant differences in the means of nitrate, sulphate, and phosphate levels between the control and farmland at all depths and months except the nitrate level in November at 10 cm, which showed no significant difference (p = 0.28) in the means between the control and farmland.