Gamma Ray Spectroscopy of Soil Samples from Apple Orchards in Lamingo Dam and Vom area in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Five samples each were collected from the apple orchards in Lamingo dam and Vom area of Jos East and Jos South local government areas respectively. The samples were allowed to decay for three weeks to ensure efficiency in acquiring the radionuclides. The samples were analyzed using Gamma Ray spectroscopy. Barium- 204 (204B) with gamma activity energy level 1765.50keV was used to check the presence of Uranium-235 (235U) in the samples. The results showed that samples Lams 2,3,4 and Voms 1,4,5 had high gamma activity energy levels of 2436.356keV, 1837.24keV 2928.37 keV and 1656.32keV, 1635.48keV, 2351.87keV respectively as compared to (204B). While lams 1,5 and Voms 2,3 had relatively lower gamma activity energy levels of 1325.23KeV, 1272.73keV and 1462.61KeV, 1183.24keV respectively. The samples with high gamma activity energy levels imply that radionuclide in the form of'35U is present in trace amounts in the sampled areas. This can affect the output of apples cultivated in such areas as the chemical composition or structure of plants will be altered.