INFLUENCE OF CEMENT PARTICULATES ON THE SOIL HEALTH: A CASE STUDY OF SOIL IN THE VICINITY OF CEMENT FACTORIES

Abstract

The present case study reports the alterations in the properties of soil affected from the cement particulates emanating by the surrounding cement factories. The chemical examination was conceded out to appraise the physico-chemical properties of the soil samples collected from the different agricultural lands surrounded by the Cement factories operated in the vicinity of the Gadchandur area of the Vidarbha region of India. The parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, NPK and other parameters of the soil were evaluated in the soil testing laboratory of the college. Due to the incessant deposition of cement dust particles emerging out from the kiln through the manufacturing of the cement, the pH of the soil has slightly raised in the range of 6.79-7.90. The pH of the soil generally ranged from 5.5 to 7.5. However, the studied area has a slightly alkaline pH. The electrical conductivity of the soil sample has slightly increased and obtained in the range of 0.591-0.493 mili mhocm-1 due to unremitting exposer to cement dust. The moisture content of the soil was found to be 8.9% to 9.9 %. The water holding capacity of the soil was found to be 38.1 % to 44.5 %. The organic carbon estimated for the samples in the laboratory was found in the range of 0.33 % to 0.46%. The organic carbon estimated for the samples was found in the range of 0.33 % to 0.46%. The nitrogen (N) estimated by the Kjeldahl method was found to be in the range of 0.14 to 0.29 %. The available Phosphorus (P) content of the soil ranged from 16.1 ppm to18.7 ppm while potassium (K) ranged (206 -259) ppm. From the results obtained, it has been noticed that there were slight alteration in the physic -chemical properties of soil. The influenced soil health was due to the heavy overthrow of particulates pollution onto the soil in the agricultural terrain by the cement factories.