Assessment of Coal Mining Effects on Soil Quality in Owukpa District, Ogbadibo Local Government Area, Benue State Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed effects of coal mining on soil quality in Owukpa district, Ogbadibo local government area of Benue State Nigeria. Its objectives were to compare the quality of soil in Owukpa (the affected area) with quality of soil in  Otukpa (control site) and then compare the quality of soil in the affected area with  Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) standard for crop production. The result of this research work was gathered through laboratory analysis of soil collected around abandoned Owukpa coal mining site and control site Otukpa both in Ogbadibo local government area. Data collected were analsysed using mean, range and student t test and presented in tables and figures. This study found that soil samples around the mining site have lower pH and soil nutrients (calcium, magnesium, sodium potassium, nitrate, sulphate and chloride) than the control samples, however, there were higher concentrations of EC and heavy metals compare to the control site. There is a significant difference in soil quality parameters between the mining affected area and the FAO standard for crop production at 95% confidence level (calculated‘t’ > critical‘t’ @ 0.05). It was concluded that the abandoned Owukpa coal mining affected the environment of Owukpa District to a large extent as soil quality parameters differ significantly with FAO regulatory limit for crop production. It was recommended among other things that erosion control practices such as afforestation, channelization and others should be done to reduce input and spread of mine waste on the environment through erosion.

Keywords: Coal mining, Soil quality, Heavy metals, Pollution, Soil nutrients.