SLARI Project Proposal Template

Project Leader Mohamed Lamin Sesay

Research Officer (Environmental Management)
Magbosi Land, Water and Environment Research Center
(MLWERC)
Address Camp Charlie, Mile 91.
Telephone +23276794837/+23288475306/23225323426
Email mlaminsesay@gmail.com /m.sesay@slari.gov.sl
Collaborator(s) 1. Sidique Kutubu
Research Officer (Soil Science)
Magbosi Land Water, and Environment Research
Centre (MLWERC)
23276686281; kutubu_sidique@yahoo.com
2. Malikie Koroma
Research Officer (irrigation)
Magbosi Land, Water and Environment Research
Centre (MLWERC)
23276674660; malikiecharleskorom@yahoo.com
3. Alimamy A. Kamara
Research Officer (Environment)
Magbosi Land, Water and Environment Research
Centre (MLWERC)
078-336-548; Alimamyakamara@yahoo.com

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Project Title Spatial Variation of trace metals and associated potential
health risk in agricultural soils.

Institutional Priority Area Innovations generated and promoted for environmental

Programme Priority Area
Project Location
Total Cost of the Project
monitoring and management
Seasonal variation of trace metals and the impact on the
health of farmers.
Kambia, Port Loko and Tonkolili Districts
Le 48,800,000

Duration of Project 4 MONTHS

Date of Proposal Submission JANUARY, 2016.
Project Background

Soil represent a major sink for metals released into the environment from a variety of
anthropogenic activities such as agricultural practices, transportation, industrial activities and
waste disposal. Heavy metals are natural constituents of the Earth's crust but human activities
have altered the balance between biochemical and geochemical cycles of some of them. Once in
soil, some of these metals will persist in soils for a very long time because of their fairly
immobile nature leading to environmental pollution. Environmental risk due to soil pollution is
of particular importance for agricultural areas because heavy metals, which are potentially
harmful to human health, may enter the food chain in higher amounts which may affect food
quality and safety. Therefore pollution of heavy metals poses a threat to a country’s food
production.
Total metal content of soil is useful for geochemical purposes but their speciation
(bioavailability) is of more interest agriculturally and this entails the identification and
quantification of the different, defined phases in which the metals occur which can help assess
how strongly they are retained in the soil. The different chemical forms in which they are
present in soils influence their reactivity and hence their mobility and bioavailability

Typical sources of soils and water pollution associated with agricultural systems include

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livestock manure, nitrate and phosphate fertilizers, metals, pathogens, sediments and pesticides.
The two most common agricultural pollutants are nitrogen and phosphorus. Many studies have
shown that non-point sources of nitrogen from agricultural activities include fertilizers, manure
application and leguminous crops. The major point sources include septic tanks and lagoons.
High concentrations of nitrate in drinking water can be detrimental to both humans and other
animals, high nitrate concentrations in drinking water can cause methaemoglobinemia in infants
and stomach cancer in adults. Phosphorus in surface water arises from various sources, including
run-off from agricultural soils; domestic and industrial effluents e.g. farm and municipal sewage;
silage effluents and groundwater discharge. Fields that are intensively fertilized, manure and
grazed, lead to excessive accumulation of phosphorus in the soil. This accumulation has a major
impact on the transportation of phosphorus in surface runoff.

Long-term excessive manure or inorganic fertilizer application can result in the saturation of
soils with nutrients, especially phosphorus which is relatively less mobile in soils. Nitrate,
potassium and phosphate in agricultural runoff have potentially serious ecological and public
health implications resulting in a variety of problems, such as clogged pipelines, fish mortality
and reduced recreational opportunities. An excess of these nutrients is also the leading cause of
aquatic eutrophication.

A significant relationship exists between stream chemistry and season. For instance, phosphate
tends to show little seasonal variation, with concentrations increasing slightly during periods of
low run-off in the dry season, while a decrease in phosphate levels is associated with high
rainfall events during raining season. Nitrate concentrations also tend to be high during the rainy
season. Climate (rainfall and temperature) and soil types can also strongly influence nitrate
leaching. In general, the concentrations of dissolved trace elements and heavy metals tend to
increase during the dry season and decrease in the wet season. Increasing anthropogenic
activities, such as agriculture and mineral processes in the dry season, elevate the total
concentration of metals. The diluting effect in the rainy season reduces the total concentration of
the metals.

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Justification

There is a growing public concern over the potential accumulation of heavy metals in
agricultural soils globally owing to rapid urban and industrial development and increasing in
application of agrochemicals on agricultural soil.

World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about a quarter of the diseases facing mankind
today occur due to prolonged exposure to environmental pollution. The general belief is that,
industrial advancement agricultural practices, mining activities, agrochemical and environmental
degradation are sources of causes of agricultural soil pollution. The soil is usually rich in toxic
heavy metals as a result of these activities. This soil is used by the people for farming activities
like panting vegetables and fruits. These plants bio-accumulate heavy metals from the soil and
when they are eaten by human beings and animals, the heavy metals accumulate in the body with
serious health effects.

The water sources around the soils also get contaminated with the heavy metals as a result of
leaching. This water is then used for irrigation and drinking cause heavy metal poisoning to the
consumer. When used for bathing and laundry the water may cause skin infections and other
allergies.

Project Goal

The goal of this project is to assess the level of pollution by heavy metals on agricultural soils,
vegetables and water and their impact on the health of the farmers.

General Objective(s)

To determine the concentration level of trace metals in the soils, vegetables/ cereals crops grown
on the study site and water found upstream, middle stream and downstream and perceived health

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risks by the community.

Specific Objective of the Project

i. To determine the concentration of selected heavy metals in the soil found at IVS,
mangrove swamps and boli-land soils.
ii. To determine the concentration of selected heavy metals in the vegetables/ cereal crops
planted

iii. To determine the concentration of selected heavy metals in the water.

iv. To assess the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of people living around the study
areas on status of their health.

Project Results/Expected Outcomes

(1) This project is expected to identify some of the pollutants in soil, vegetables/ cereals
crops and water and bring out strategies in other to reduce pollution.
(2) It is expected to identify diseases associated with soils that are polluted by heavy metals.
(3) The farming activities that contribute to pollution of soil, this project is expected to
highlight these activities and the way forward.

Research and Development Activities:

The goal of this project is to assess the level of pollution by heavy metals on agricultural soils,
vegetables and water and their impact on the health of the farmers.

A. Identification of agrochemical activities:

(i) Selection of farming sites by making facts finding visits.
(ii) Conducting interview to the local farmers on which methods or practices they
carried out on the farm.

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 B. Collection of soil samples:
(i) Three farming areas shall be identified,( IVS, Boli-land and Mangrove Swamp)
(ii) On each farming area, shall be divided into four plots. Eight samples shall be
collected on each plots, therefore a total of twenty-four (24) samples shall be
collected on each farming area at a depth of 0-5 cm and 6-10 cm.
C. Analysis of water samplppo9po-p

TARGET GROUPS AND BENEFICIARIES:

The target groups and beneficiaries of this research project shall include the following: The
communities located in the study sites. Also serves to inform decision-makers on the sources,
transport and distribution of sediments associated contaminants and their impact in the region.
This will also be applicable to science-based policy formulation and restoration of proper
agrochemical practices.

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METHODOLOGY:
Study area:
The study area shall be farming area of three districts i.e. Kambia district, Port Loko district and
Tonkolili district. It is predominantly a farming community. There is flowing water in the
farming areas which some dry up during the dry season and the whole place is associated with
agricultural activities, which makes it probable that the soil vegetables/cereals crops and water
may be polluted.

Data collection
The sample shall be collected twice a month, for four months January, February 2016 for the dry
season and, July and August 2016 for the raining season in three districts at three different
farming areas, i.e. mangrove swamps, IVS and Boli-land soils, the vegetables planted and water.

The soil shall be collected using a 10 cm soil auger. The samples shall be collected randomly on
the site and at 0-5 cm and 6-10 cm depth. Samples from each plot shall be mixed homogenously
as to get a representative from each plot. Samples are then put to polyethene bags for laboratory
analysis.
The water sample shall be collected using a 150 cm beaker at upstream, middle stream and
downstream on each farming site. The beaker is scup on the water and turn into a plastic
container and stopper. The pH and temperature shall be measured on site. The samples will be
treated as of laboratory procedures for analysis.

REAGENTS:
All reagents will be of analytical reagents grade. Distilled- deionized water will be used for all
dilutions. Nitric acid (HNO3) (65%) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (30%) and calibrations will
be prepared by diluting stock solutions of 1000mg/L.

LABORATORY ANALYSIS:
Parameters to be measured on soil, vegetables and water samples included:
(i) Physical Parameters:

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pH, Temperature, Electrical Conductivity and Turbidity.
(ii) Chemical Parameters:
Cadmium, Nickel, Lead, Copper, Silver, Zinc Nitrate, and Phosphate Dissolved Organic Carbon
and Biological Oxygen Demand.
(iii) Biological Parameters:
Fecal Coli-form bacteria.

Financial Summary (See table below)

Detail activity Unit Quantity Unit cost Total cost

1. Procurement a. laboratory 250 equipment a. 3,000,000 10,000,000

of equipment equipment and chemical b. 7,000,000
and reagent reagent.
b. chemical
reagent

2. Sample In farm land Three samples 350,000 350,000

Collection and other in each
locations. location

3. Laboratory RARC All samples 350,000 350,000

analysis of laboratory collected in
samples. each month.

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4. Visibility To identify To and fro, 250,000 250,000
study farming
activities going
on.

5. Transportation Sample To and fro 1,250,000 1,250,000

to collect collection
samples.

Total 12,800,000

GRAND TOTAL
FOR FOUR
MONTHS

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Project Logical Framework
Narrative Indicator(s) Means of Assumptions
Goal: Improvement Availability of Verification Can be achieved if
of soil fertility, crop working materials SLARI information there are available
yield and causing archives and relevant funds, personal and
minimal institutions. material resources.
environmental
hazards.

General objective:
Availability of data SLARI information Availability of
To determine the for sustainable archives and relevant financial, personnel
concentration level of agriculture. institutions and material
resources
trace metals in the
soils, vegetables/
cereals crops grown
on the study site and
water found
upstream, middle
stream and
downstream and
perceived health risks
by the community.

Activity 1: visibility studies to the study area.

Outputs: Research Scientists Willingness to Labor funding
Funding provide funding

Activity 2: collection of samples.

Outputs: Research Scientists Amount of samples Funding is available
Use of instruments collected. in time

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Activity 3: preparation of standard solution.
Outputs: Presence of samples Percentage increase Management
equipment in pollutants practices are strictly
followed
Activity 4: to document the results obtainede
to collect samples for Percentage increase in SPSS analysis Availability of SPSS
analysis content and how long software and data are
it stays in the soil. arranged compatible
for the software
analysis.

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manufacturing plant in Nigeria, African Journal of Enviro Sci and Tech., 3(9) (2009), 239-
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