Levels Of Essential And Non-Essential Metals In Kocho, Enset (Ensete Ventricosum) And Its Suporting Soil

Abstract

Enset (Ensete vntricosum) is a drought tolerant crop, grown in Ethiopia. It has many usages: food, fibers and traditional medicine. Being perennial, enset improves local climate and soil conditions. It could contribute to improve food security in several drought-prone parts of the world. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of essential and non-essential metal elements in Enset, Kocho and Soil. This paper presents the concentration of K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Mn, Cd and Pb in Enset, Kocho and Soil were collected from Amogera water shade found in gurage zone Enemor Ena Ener Woreda (SNNPR). A 4 mL 70% HNO3 and 4 mL 70% HClO4 for Enset and Kocho and 2.5 mL conc. HCl and 7.5 mL HNO3 and 2 mL H2O2 for Soil was used for digestion method and determination was made by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The percentage recoveries of the metals were in the range of 90 to 99%. The ranges of the concentrations (µg/g) of the metals on dry weight are: Fe 105-124; K 5250-5500; Ca 3250-3825; Zn 13.5-16.3; Cu 6.5-8.7; Ni 32.7-35.3; Cr 8.5-11.5; Mn 16.5-20.7; and Pb 0.8-1.1for Enset and Fe 172.5-182.5; K 5000-5025; Ca 10500-11250; Zn 6.7-9.5; Cu 3.7-8; Ni 33-34; Cr 8-9; Mn 10-13 and Pb 1.4-2.1 for Kocho and Fe 165: K 5750; Ca 1725; Zn 38.5; Cu 13.5; Ni 23.7; Cr 13.5; Mn 62.5 and Pb 18 for Soil, where as Cd was not detected in all samples. The concentration of K was highest followed by Ca in Enset, Kocho and Soil. Enset and Kocho also contain higher amount of Fe and Zn.