Impact of oil and gas activities on quality of soil in Port Harcourt and its environments was assessed. The study evaluates levels of physicochemical parameters associated with oil and gas industry in soils of 9 locations in Port Harcourt and its environs in Rivers State in Nigeria using standard methods. Composite samples were collected by random sampling from each of the 9 test locations, 3 control samples were also collected from each of the study areas. Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl-benzene, and Xylene (BTEX) and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) was measured using Gas Chromatography (Hewlett Packard 5890 Series II Gas Chromatograph FID). Total Organic Carbon (TOC) was measured using ASMD standard methods of analysis (ASMD 2579). Refinery Eleme and Aluu recorded the highest mean levels of BTEX (3.21±0.61 and 3.24±0.18 ppm respectively). The mean levels of TPH in soil were within the EPA acceptable optimum of 50 mg/kg except at A2 (Oquwi). There was significant difference among test samples and control samples as determined by one-way ANOVA (F11, 24=3.395; p=0.006). The highest mean levels of TPH was at A2 (56.70±25.77 ppm). ANOVA revealed that there were significant differences in TOC (p=0.023), BTEX (p=<0.001) and TPH (p=<0.001) among the study areas. Industrial areas I1 [Onne], I2 [Agbada] and I3 [Trans-Amadi] recorded highest levels of TOC. Oil and gas activities in industrial areas in Port Harcourt have highest impact on levels of TOC in soils as compared to agricultural and urbanized areas. Oil and gas activities have negative impact on levels of BTEX. Industrial areas recorded highest levels followed by agricultural areas and lastly urbanized areas. The study concludes that oil and gas activities are a threat to soil health and integrity in Port Harcourt.
Fertilizers are used to increase crop yields in agriculture but can affect the integrity of soil ecosystems if misused.The present study was conducted to observe the impact of inorganic fertilizers in selected soils in Greater Port Harcourt Area on soil microbial population, in addition, the association between soil microbial population and Lethal Concentration 50 (LC 50 ) was observed. Microbial communities and LC 50 values were determined using normal analytical procedures. The study showed various fertilizer types that altered soil microbial population and LC 50 values. For agricultural areas the maximum NPKB mean value was 0.70±0.76 ppm which was higher than the mean value of the control location of 0.23±0.00 ppm. Urea tolerant fungi's (UREAF's) LC 50 mean value was 0.43±0.09 ppm in the agricultural area as compared to the control with a mean value of 0.46±0.00 ppm. Industrial and urban areas had significantly different mean values of 0.29 ± 0.19 ppm and 0.18±0.01 ppm and 0.23 ± 0.06 ppm and 0.23 ± 0.060.17 ± 0.010.17 ± 0.010.17 ± 0.01 ppm respectively (p = 0.001). This research concluded that the application of UREA and NPK fertilizers in study area soils lowered the pH of soils in A1, A2 and A3 agricultural sites. Application of UREA and NPK fertilizers in soils of the study areas increased the population of microorganisms in threshold concentrations but was detrimental for NPK and UREA fertilizers at concentrations of 1.50% or above. Further findings showed that microorganisms were more tolerant of NPK and UREA fertilizers in agricultural areas compared to urban and industrial areas which showed higher LC 50 values. This research concludes that fertilizers used in the study areas were related to soil microorganisms developing tolerance to NPK and UREA. Farmers should observe application of the recommended professional quantities of fertilizers to ensure the sustenance of the soil ecosystem integrity.
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