Environmental Impacts of Cement Production on the Total Nitrogen and Nitrate Distribution of Soil and Dust in Selected Areas around Ewekoro, Ogun State

Abstract

Cement dust is principal industrial waste that exhibits detrimental effects on soil properties especially the nitrogen content of the soil. This study investigated the total Nitrogen and Nitrate value of the soil and dust collected in thirteen (13) different locations around Ewekoro Limestone Quarry and Cement Production. The results showed that the total nitrogen value ranges between 0.093ppm and 0.037ppm while the nitrate value ranged from 145.25ppm - 66.50ppm in the soil samples. Also, the total nitrogen in the dust particulate samples was from 0.950-0.100ppm while the nitrate value ranged from 63.00ppm-28.00pm. The value of total nitrogen value and nitrate around Ewekoro Quarry is relatively lower than the value obtained at Ososun, the control location which is about 10km away from Quarry. Duncann Multiple range tests revealed that soil samples collected from Alaguntan, Ajegunle, Arigbajo, Papa Lanto, Rail km 53, Waasinmi Alaafia, Apomu, Isofin Orile, Quarry, were significantly different in total nitrogen from the control sample (Ososun). In contrast, soil samples collected from Ayepe, Lapeleke, and Agbesi do not differ significantly in total Nitrogen from the soil sample. Also, the result of the correlation matrix indicated that there is a significant positive correlation between total nitrogen, conductivity, and depth at (<0.05), while there is a negative correlation but non-significant relationship between soil depth, pH, clay content, and total nitrogen. It is possible that the reduced level of nitrogen around the quarry location compared with the control site must have been due to the effect of cement duct particulates.