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| Investigating the Nutrient Load from River Benue Water at the Reach of Makuredi-Nigeria |
Enokela O.S, Utor S.O, Awulu J.O.
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Abstract:
: River Benue water at the reach of Makurdi was investigated for nutrient load using; multivariate statistics within a span of four (4) months from August to November, 2020 . A total of 36 raw water samples of the river were collected along and across the river at nine (9) sampling stations and analyzed using Atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). Spatial variations of the nutrients show that the mean locational (station) concentration of TDS (mg/L) was highest Wurukum SB and the lowest in Abua NB. Phosphate and Nitrate were highest and lowest in Abua SB and Wurukum NB, and Wurukum MS and Abua SB respectively. Mean standard deviation were 312.2, 9.8, 1.55. 12.03, 0.74, 0.04, and 8.70 for. Turbidity, TDS, K, Na, Mg, NO3, NH3+, and PO4- respectively. Turbidity was found to be the greatest influence towards the poor water quality of the river. Principal component analysis revealed four principal components (PCs) with Eigen values greater than 1, PC1 and PC2 accounted for about 70% of the total variance observed, an indication that the parameters in PC1 and PC2 were responsible for the high pollution levels of the river. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) further proved that, nutrients were of similar origin (agricultural activities), contributing majorly to the overall poor water quality status of the river.
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