TY - JOUR ID - 43264 TI - Selected trace elements evaluation in soil from an urban farming area JO - International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management JA - IJHCUM LA - en SN - 2476-4698 AU - Nyandika, H.O. AU - Kitur, E. AU - Nzeve, J.K. AD - Department of Environmental Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya AD - Department of Environmental Sciences, Machakos University, Machakos, Kenya Y1 - 2020 PY - 2020 VL - 5 IS - 3 SP - 187 EP - 198 KW - Element concentration KW - Contamination KW - Soils, Trace elements KW - Urban farming DO - 10.22034/IJHCUM.2020.03.01 N2 - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Urban farming makes a substantial influence on the household economy of the urban poor especially in developing countries. Urban soil the hot spot of urban farming is a natural sink for contaminants especially the trace elements derived mainly from anthropogenic activities. This study’s aim was to quantify the concentrations of selected trace elements (Cr, Mn, Cu, Ni, and Zn) in topsoil (0-20 cm) and subsoil (21-50 cm) and to evaluate whether their concentration vary during dry and rainy season. METHODS: Grid soil sampling method was used to collect soil samples and their total concentration was determined using a portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer. FINDING: The study revealed that the topsoil had higher concentration than sub soil. The topsoil concentration in mg/kg were 61.62, 4042.58, 30.82, 43.90 and 456.43 for Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu and Zn respectively.  The subsoil concentration in mg/kg were 54.67, 3791.38, 30.32, 27.83 and 370.32 for Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu and Zn respectively. It also noted that concentration of the trace elements was higher during dry season than wet season but not significantly different (P ≥ .05) for all the elements. CONCLUSION: This study recommends that the level of trace elements studied in the soil be monitored to ensure that it does not reach the harmful levels.      UR - https://www.ijhcum.net/article_43264.html L1 - https://www.ijhcum.net/article_43264_99a747c9ef26c3ae73a2122475add272.pdf ER -