Some Physicochemical Properties of Soils from Three Steel Welding and Fabrication Workshops in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Some physicochemical properties were assessed in soils within steel welding and fabrication workshops in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The study was carried out between May to November, 2020. The physicochemical parameters were determined using standard conventional methods of analysis to ascertain the different levels of the selected physicochemical parameters in the studied environment. The results obtained within the months revealed that pH average range was between 6.8±0.08-7.1±0.05, the electrical conductivity average range was between 65.25±0.83-76±0.71µs/cm, percentage organic carbon was within average range of 0.396±0.001-0.525±0.001%, percentage soil organic matter was in the average range of 0.682±0.002-0.904±0.002% and for particle size analysis, percentage sand was in the average range of 75±0.71-79±0.71%, percentage clay was in the average range 9.25±0.83-11±0.71% and percentage silt was in the average range 10.75±0.43-14±0.71% for the Egbelu, Elioparanwo and Saint John soils respectively. Observation from the nature of occurrence of the physicochemical parameters in the steel-welding and fabrication workshops showed that that the steel-welding and fabrication has not yet influenced the level of the physicochemical parameters in the soils studied.