Distribution of Physicochemical Parameters through Soil Profiles around Auto-Mechanic Workshop Clusters in Yenagoa Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

In this study, results of analyses were carried out on the physicochemical parameters of soils around auto-mechanic workshop clusters and a control site following standard procedures and methodologies within Yenagoa Metropolis for parameters like pH, conductivity, NO3, PO4, SOM, Ca, Mg, Na, K, CEC and THC. Values for the parameters were observed, in most instances to have followed the Distance-Decay Model. In such cases, the parameters showed higher levels at the top soils (0 – 15cm) than in lower soil profiles (15 – 30cm and 30 – 45cm) and generally decreased with increasing distances (50m and 100m) from the reference points (0m) at the auto-mechanic workshop clusters, depending on influencing factors. At the auto-mechanic workshop clusters, pH varied from 6.0 to 6.8 indicating acidification of soils, conductivity varied from 594 to 10,258.20úS/cm, nitrates from 3.3 to 4.6mg/kg, phosphates from 0.4 to 0.6mg/kg, SOM from 4.4 to 6.0% and calcium from 11.4 to 26.7meq/100g. Others were magnesium from 4.8 to 9.2meq/100g, sodium from 6.7 to 17.5meq/100g, potassium from 3.5 to 5.1meq/100g, CEC from 26.5 to 44.9meq/100g and THC from 4.5 to 5.4mg/kg respectively. Thus, it could be safely stated that operational presence of auto-mechanic workshop clusters did impact the physicochemical parameters of soils within closer vicinities as topsoils (0 – 15cm) and reference points (0m) more significantly than soils farther away from their vicinities. This raises health, environmental and food productivity concerns in soils of the study area.