Depth Profile of Elemental Concentration of Soil Samples from a Farm Land Within Kaduna, Using X-ray Fluorescence

摘要

The variation of soil elemental composition was studied to identify the minimum depth needed for optimum yield of crop. The percentage elemental concentration of soil obtained at depth ranging from 0.02-0.30 m at a farm land located in Kaduna state, Nigeria was carried out using X-ray fluorescence. Twenty five different elements were identified. Gallium, thorium, Uranium and Potassium were some of the Natural Occurring Radioactive Materials found at different concentration from depth of 0.02-0.06 m,but found missing beyond 0.06 m. Concentration of Potassium and other elements reduces and increases non-linearly with depth to a minimum concentration of 7.2% at depth of 0.11 m. It further increases and reduces in same trend with depth; Iron and Cobalt gave an anomalous high concentration of 75.6 and 8.5%, respectively at this depth. All other elements have minimum concentration at 0.11 m.