The Impacts of Cement Dust Deposits on Soil Available Micronutrients

The impact of cement dust deposits on soils micronutrient around Ashaka cement factory, Nigeria was evaluated by determining available micronutrient elements in 68 soil samples and some crop plant stalks using acid extraction and atomic absorption spectrophotometric methods. Soil samples collected in a radius of 6Km from a 0 – 30cm depth and analysed indicated mean concentrations of 215.30gKg Fe, 7.96 gKg Zn, 0.33 gKg Cu, 80.79 gKg Mn, 2.05 gKg Ni, and 26.91 gKg Co. The concentration of each element in the soil varies in a decreasing order with increasing distance away from the cement factory and generally occurring above background levels (Zn, Mn, Ni). The metals in the crop plants were higher than normal levels with sorghum concentrating more metals than millet, suggesting a reflection of the soil metal concentrations and this might be due to the presence of available mobile elements and the slightly acidic nature of the soil outside the factory.