Impacts of Gas Flaring on the Fertility Status of Agricultural Soil in an Oil and Gas Host Community in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Nigeria flares huge quantity of associated gas from oil fields during crude oil production. Gas flaring have direct and indirect consequences on the environment and its associated biota. This study evaluated the impacts gas flaring on the fertility of agricultural soil in an oil and gas host community in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The soil samples were collected radially at four cardinals of uniting flare station, East, West, North and South at 200m, 400m, 600m and 800m distances using soil auger at two depths (0-15cm and 15-30cm). In addition, samples were collected from a botanical garden of Federal University, Otuoke, to serve as control. The soil samples were sieved, processed and analyzed for some soil fertility determinant parameters (pH, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity) following standard protocol. Results showed that there was significant variation (p<0.05) between the soil characteristics in flared location and the control for the each of the parameters. In addition, apparent decline in some of the parameters exist as the distance away from flare stack increased. This suggest possible effect of flare from oil field on soil characteristics. Since the parameters analyzed provide useful information on the nutrient composition of the soil, hence the decline may lead to reduction in soil fertility. Therefore, there is need to adopt zero tolerance for flaring of associated gas so as to minimize its effect on the environmental components and its associated biota.

Keywords: Bayelsa State, Environmental chemistry, Gas glaring, oil and gas, Soil nutrients.