Effects of Quarry Activities on Physical and Chemical Properties of Soils in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Quarrying activities to obtain boulders, chips and stone dust for construction works, hard flooring and decorative polished slabs involve cutting or blasting rocks with explosives, crushing and haulage from the pit mines. The quarry is open to the air with the impacts of noise and vibrations and pollution from fumes, gases and dust particles which settle or are precipitated by rainfall on the adjoining area to alter the soil properties. This study was carried out to assess the effects of quarrying activities on the physical and chemical properties of soil samples collected at 0, 500 and 1000 m in cardinal directions around the quarry compared to samples from Aponmu Forest Reserve as the control. The soil samples were collected at 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm depth for analysis using standard laboratory methods. The result shows significant differences in the properties of soil samples around the quarry from the soils in the natural forest. The clay content was not significantly different in all the directions, distances and depths. The silt was higher in the South direction at 0 m, 10-20 and 20-30 cm depths and the least value was recorded in the North direction at 1000 m and 0-10 cm depth. The sand portion was more abundant at the directions, distances and soil depths than the natural forest. Available macronutrients were higher at the sites than in the natural forest.