Bed Sediment Analysis of Ntawogba River in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Year 2024, Volume: 19 Issue: 2, 69 - 92, 30.06.2024

Temple Abali

Abstract

The aim was the analysis of soil types, physico-chemical parameters of water and sediments, heavy metals, benthos, zooplankton and phytoplankton. Experimental research design and data were analysed using mean and standard deviation, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and one sample T-test. The result revealed that the soil type was mainly sandy clay. The mean value of the physico-chemical parameters were within the World Health Organization (WHO) standard prescribed limit; There is no significant variation in the mean distribution of physico-chemical parameters in Ntawogba creek along the ten locations (F 9, 110= 0.79, P >0.05); There is no significant variation in the mean distribution of heavy metals parameters in Ntawogba creek along the 10 locations (F 9, 50= .021, P > 0.05); There is significant difference in the concentration level of oil and grease in Ntawogba creek (DF= T = 42.037, P<0.05); There is no significant variation in the distribution of benthos in the ten locations of Ntawogba creek (F9, 80 = 1.307, P >0.05); There is no significant variation in the distribution of phytoplanktons in the ten locations of Ntawogba creek F(9,120) = 0.535, P > 0.05); There is no significant variation in the distribution of zooplankton in the ten locations of Ntawogba creek (F(9,70)= .0510, P <0.05). The study further revealed that the benthos, phytoplanktons and zooplanktons were varied in their distribution across the 10 locations in the study area. Conclusion of bed sediment characteristics of river system highly affected by anthropogenic activities. Recommendation of periodic analysis of bed sediment characteristics of the river.

Keywords

Anthropogenic, Parameters, Physico-chemical Sediments, Urbanization

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