Abstract:
Some physical and chemical properties of soils around the Dangote Cement Factory operational
area (longitude 8036 and 8045E and latitudes 7045 and 8000N) were assessed from three
locations sited at 0.5km, 1.0km and 1.5km distance from the factory. Infiltration capacity test
was carried out in the fields. Soil samples were taken from 0 30 cm depth for laboratory
analysis and subjected to salinity and fertility related parameters. The research was carried out in
June, 2017. The soils of the study area were of dominantly sandy loam textures at Tse Kucha
(0.5km), while Amua (1.0km) and Amua (1.5km) were of loamy sand textures. The soils had
high values of infiltration capacities (0.003 0.009 cm/s). The soils indicate no salinity problem
as the values of pH (7.17 7.69), electrical conductivity (0.76 1.37 ds/m), sodium (0.34 1.30
Cmol/kg), exchangeable sodium percentage (4.02 7.53 %) and sodium absorption ratio (0.17
0.47) fall within the tolerable limit. The soils are rated moderate in fertility status due to
moderate levels of cation exchange capacity (9.65 18.36 Cmol/kg), organic matter (0.69 2.84
%), nitrogen (0.23 0.81 %), phosphorus (2.80 5.80 mg/kg), calcium (4.10 8.80 Cmol/kg),
magnesium (3.60 6.20 Cmol/kg), potassium (0.41 0.96 Cmol/kg) and high base saturation
(87.56 94.01 %). The soils around the cement factory (Tse-Kucha) are prone to salinity due to
continuous emission of cement dust on the surface of the soil which resulted in abnormal
(contamination) increased in soil mineral values such as Ca, Mg, Na and K compared to other
locations. The soil contamination due to cement dust reduced sharply with distance from the
factory |
