Properties of soil in Ariyalur, The Cement city of India

Raajasubramanian1, Krishna Ram Hanumappa2 ,Navya Harish3and Narendra K.*

Department of Botany,AnnamalaiUniversity,AnnamalaiNagar,Chidambaram,Tamilnaidu, India

DOS in Zoology, University of Mysore, Mysore, Karnataka, India

Depeartment of Biology, MES College of arts Commerce and Science, Karnataka, India

Corresponding author email:

DOS in Zoology, University of Mysore, Mysore, Karnataka, India

Abstract:Soil depletion by water air if it’s a serious problem. Amendment of soil is the most serious adding undesirable substances to the soils alters the soil and adversely affects the flora and fauna. This research elaborates the study of different properties of soil in cement city hub.

Key: Physico-chemical, Organic Carbon, Cation Exchange Capacity, Texture

Introduction

Soil is nature’s gift to nurture the plants, which intern nourishes the biotic community thus ecosystem. Now a day’s this soil as become pool for various, toxins, syntactic non degradable chemicals, heavy metals etc. Soil as been polluted in all possible means, polluted water being reservoirs of chemicals heavy metals lets this chemical percolate into the soil. Polluted air caring all the toxin dust depositing on the soil, Human population explosion, rapid industrialization, increased deforestation, unplanned urbanization, scientific and technological advancement etc. have further hyped all kinds of pollution.( Raajasubramanian Devarajan etal 2015)

Cement industries pollute their environment in the form of dust in the surrounding areas and their products escape during factory processing (Uma et al., 1994; Ayanbamiji and Ogundipe, 2010). India being developing country urbanization is getting centralized thus paving way to development of concrete jungles replacing the natural beauty of environment, to meet this ever growing demands, more and more cement industries are established in India. The first Indian cement factory was established in 1914 at Porbundar in Gujarat. At present, there are 155 major cement industries (160 million tonnes per annum) and 300 mini cement plants (9 million tonnes per annum) in India. There are nearly 20 major cement industries located in Tamil Nadu. The main industries such as Alagappa cements (Pudupalayam), Ariyalur Cement Works (Kallankurichi), Chettinad cements (Keelapazhur), Dalmia cements (Thamaraikulam), Dharani cements (Veenakaikatti), Grasim cements (Reddiarpalayam), Ramco cements (Govindapuram) and Sankar cements (Thalavai) are located in and around ariyalur. They produce enormous amount of dust and pollute the surrounding environment. Among them, Ariyalur Cement Works, Ariyalur was established in 1979. It produces as much as 1500 MT/day employing dry process method. During production, it releases a stalk emission of 1,60,000 MT/hr. The emitted dust is carried out to surrounding areas and deposited over the vegetation and soil. The main objective of this research is to assess the impact of the dust given out by a cement factory on the physico chemical characteristics of soil and the mineral content of plant grown there.

Materials and Method

Physico-chemical characterisation of soil (Muthuvel and Udayasoorian, 1999)

Analysis of soil samples in connection with agricultural purpose were also made for water holding capacity,pH, EC, N,P,K, calcium, Magnesium and micro nutrients. For this study, soil samples were collected randomly from the polluted field sites at four different locations but all within the areas for comparison, soil samples were also collected from control fields following the same method, at 18 kms distance away from the cement factory with an identical environment. Soils up to depth of 15cm were dug out and analysed as per standard agricultural procedures.

Traffic census:

A census was made manually regarding the traffic for a period of two weeks(14 days). The census included the counting of two wheelers, four wheelers (light & heavy), animal drawn, cycle, trucks, cycle rickshaws, tricycle, and buses. The average has been tabulated.

Result

Physico chemical characterization of Soil

The various physico chemical characteristics of normal and affected soil were tabulated in Table 1

The pH has shown a mild increase from 8.32-8.52 in the normal and affected soil was respectively. The amount of available nitrogen in the normal soil was 89.4 and in affected soil it was 65.8%. Similarly the available phosphorus content was 4.8 per acre and it was 2.75 kg/Aec in affected soil. Were as the calcium and magnesium content of normal soil was 6.6 and 4.5 C-mole proton+/kg respectively, and in affected soil it was 8.3 and 5.3 c-mole proton+/kg respectively.

Table 1: Estimation of physico-chemical characteristics of normal and affected soil.

SL. No / Name of the Parameter / SAMPLE DETAILS / SAMPLE DETAILS
Normal / Affected
1 / PH / 8.32 / 8.52
2 / EC (dsm-1) / 0.24 / 0.22
3 / Colour / Yellowish, Brown / Yellowish , Brown
4 / Texture / Sandy clay Loam / Sandy clay Loam
5 / Moisture (%) / 6.43 / 6.46
6 / Lime Status / Present / Present
7 / Organic Carbon / 0.32 / 0.26
8 / Organic Matter / 0.64 / 0.52
9 / Available Nitrogen / 89.4 / 65.8
10 / Available Phosphorus (Kg/ac) / 4.0 / 2.75
11 / Available Potassium / 75.0 / 75.0
Micronutrients
12 / Available Zinc (ppm) / 1.02 / 1.06
13 / Available Copper (ppm) / 0.98 / 0.87
14 / Available Iron (ppm) / 4.59 / 4.86
15 / Available Manganese (ppm) / 12.45 / 12.49
SOIL FRACTIONS
16 / Fine Sand (%) / 44.57 / 44.97
17 / Coarse Sand (%) / 29.79 / 30.19
18 / Silt (%) / 0.65 / 05.56
19 / Clay (%) / 19.79 / 19.28
20 / Cation Exchange Capacity (C.Mole Proton+/Kg) / 11.60 / 13.40
21 / Calcium (C. Mole Proton + / kg) / 6.60 / 8.30
22 / Magnesium ,, / 4.50 / 5.30
23 / Sodium ,, / 0.28 / 0.16
24 / Potassium ,, / 0.12 / 0.09
25 / Heavy metals (ppm) / NIL / NIL

A census was made manually regarding the traffic for a period of two weeks (14 days). The census included the counting of two wheeler, four wheelers (Light & Heavy), animal drawn, cycle, trucks, cycle rickshaws, tricycle and buses. The average has been tabulated.

The traffic census made on the Ariyalur andSripuranthan highway for a period of two weeks help us to understand the number of various vehicles and other mode of transport passing by the area as a source of SPM. The results have been tabulated in table 4.48 and 4.49. The average light commercial vehicle which passed through the census point (27/2)was 2719 in number, the fast vehicleswere 110009 in number where as the slow vehicle were18249in number.The average light commercial vehicle which passed through the census point (11/6)was 621 in number, the fast vehicleswere 75053 in number where as the slow vehicle were18224in number.

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Table2. Traffic census data on the Perambalur – Manamadarai highway Traffic census two weekly traffic summary

Census point: 27/2 Railway gate ariyalur

Name of the road: Perambalur to manamaduraiDate: December-2005(1-14)

Period / FAST VEHICLES / SLOW VEHICLES
Cars Jeeps,
Vans,Three
Wheelers etc., / Light Commercial
Vehicles (LCV) / Buses / Trucks / Multi Axie vehicles
(truck Trailer / Agri Tractor Trailer) / MotorCycles
& Scooters / Total Col
5 to 11 / Animal Drawn / Cycle / Cycle Rickshaw
& Tricycle / Others
(specify) / Total Col.
12 to 15
Horse Drawn / Bullock
Cart
From / To
Date / Hour / Date / Hour
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17
1.12.06 / 6.00am / 2.12.05 / 6.00am / 3768 / 2802 / 1005 / 1207 / 3054 / 3281 / 19117 / Nil / 259 / 1807 / Nil / Nil / 2066
3.12.06 / 6.00am / 4.12.05 / 6.00am / 3602 / 2687 / 1927 / 1282 / 3456 / 3501 / 19455 / Nil / 270 / 2970 / Nil / Nil / 3240
5.12.06 / 6.00am / 6.12.05 / 6.00am / 3706 / 2702 / 1865 / 1176 / 3652 / 3405 / 19506 / Nil / 242 / 1976 / Nil / Nil / 2218
7.12.06 / 6.00am / 8.12.05 / 6.00am / 2974 / 1994 / 1762 / 1976 / 2967 / 3306 / 16979 / Nil / 196 / 2407 / Nil / Nil / 2603
9.12.06 / 6.00am / 10.12.05 / 6.00am / 3654 / 2406 / 1908 / 1021 / 3116 / 3115 / 18220 / Nil / 186 / 2609 / Nil / Nil / 2795
11.12.06 / 6.00am / 12.12.05 / 6.00am / 3468 / 2609 / 1865 / 1169 / 3468 / 3216 / 18795 / Nil / 206 / 2512 / Nil / Nil / 2718
13.12.06 / 6.00am / 14.12.05 / 6.00am / 3567 / 2705 / 1796 / 1294 / 3258 / 3317 / 18937 / Nil / 192 / 2417 / Nil / Nil / 2609
Total for the two weeks / 24739 / 17905 / 12128 / 9125 / 22971 / 23141 / 110009 / - / 1551 / 16698 / - / - / 18249
Average Daily Traffic / 1767 / 1279 / 1438 / 652 / 212 / 1653 / - / - / 111 / 1192 / - / - / -

Table 3 Traffic census data on the Ariyalur -Sripuranthan highway Traffic census two weekly traffic summary Census point: 11/6 Grasim road

Name of the road: Ariyalur to sripuranthanDate: December 2005(15-28)

Period / FAST VEHICLES / SLOW VEHICLES
Cars Jeeps, Vans,
Three Wheelers etc., / Light Commercial
Vehicles (LCV) / Buses / Trucks / Multi Axie vehicles
(truck Trailer / Agri Tractor Trailer) / Motor Cycles
&Scooters / Total Col
5 to 11 / Animal Drawn / Cycle / Cycle Rickshaw
& Tricycle / Others
(specify) / Total Col.
12 to 15
Horse Drawn / Bullock Cart
From / To
Date / Hour / Date / Hour
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17
15.12.06 / 6.00am / 16.12.06 / 6.00am / 3426 / 1324 / 208 / 2605 / 760 / 3624 / 11947 / Nil / 204 / 2615 / Nil / Nil / 2819
17.12.06 / 6.00am / 18.12.06 / 6.00am / 3258 / 1296 / 196 / 2462 / 697 / 2786 / 10695 / Nil / 186 / 2518 / Nil / Nil / 2704
19.12.06 / 6.00am / 20.12.06 / 6.00am / 3462 / 1318 / 189 / 2240 / 626 / 2814 / 10649 / Nil / 192 / 2362 / Nil / Nil / 2554
21.12.06 / 6.00am / 22.12.06 / 6.00am / 3256 / 1267 / 197 / 2365 / 580 / 2906 / 10571 / Nil / 168 / 2480 / Nil / Nil / 2648
23.12.06 / 6.00am / 24.12.06 / 6.00am / 2984 / 1016 / 186 / 2716 / 652 / 3102 / 10656 / Nil / 156 / 2610 / Nil / Nil / 2766
25.12.06 / 6.00am / 26.12.06 / 6.00am / 3124 / 1164 / 205 / 1984 / 596 / 3204 / 10277 / Nil / 192 / 2180 / Nil / Nil / 2372
27.12.06 / 6.00am / 28.12.06 / 6.00am / 3328 / 1306 / 196 / 1962 / 486 / 2980 / 10258 / Nil / 185 / 2176 / Nil / Nil / 2361
Total for the two weeks / 22838 / 8691 / 1377 / 16334 / 4397 / 21416 / 75053 / - / 1283 / 16941 / - / - / 18224
Average Daily Traffic / 1631 / 621 / 98 / 1166 / 314 / 1529 / - / - / 92 / 1210 / - / - / -

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Discussion

Earth from being cradle it has become grave. Nature helps life to florish and cherish but in turn we human are perishing the nature the water (hydrosphere),air (atmosphere) and soil (lithosphere).We human should not lose the ambiance of using it making nature to lose its natural ambiance.

Dust control in mines

1. Spraying the haul roads with water and chemical would control the dust at these sources. Paring all permanent haul roads would considerably reduce the dust emanating from haul roads.

2. Stabilization and biological reclamation of overburden dumps, which occupy large areas within and outside mines, would reduce the amount of dust generated.

3. Coal stack yards need to be provided with effective spraying systems. A dust control plan needs to be prepared to reduce dust at the coal stack yards.

4.Project management should ensure that feeder breakers function with proper water spraying systems.

5. Belt conveyors and its transfer points are to be kept enclosed. If possible, dust spraying systems, can be provided at the transfer points.

  1. The coal crusher house in the mine is to be enclosed, and the water spraying system should be well functioning during coal crushing.

Dust control in residential areas

1. The burning of coal must be banned in house holds in all the colonies. This would improve both indoor and out door air quality in the colonies.

2. Green belts need to be developed surrounding the mines, colonies, and road sides to keep the colony cleaner. Priority must be given to provide such green cover in the vicinity of the schools in the areas.

Dust control in limestone transportation

(1) Trucks transporting limestone should not be overloaded as limestone that spills from trucks generate dust from roads.

(2)Limestone dust should be removed from the road at regular intervals to keep the road clean. In addition, water must be sprayed to keep the road sides clean.

(3) A green belt of reasonable width must be developed along the entire stretch of the roads being used to transport limestone from mines being to railway sliding or stock yards.

Reduction in vehicular pollution

Traffic management is utmost necessary for the reduction of vehicular pollution.For which construction of fly overs, extension of roads must be carried out.

Fuel quality must be appreciable along with the usage of alternative fuels such as hydrogen, Liquid petroleum gas, compressed natural gas which has lesser pollution potential.

Road side vegetation must not be disturbed and further plantation must be encouraged.

Above all environmental awareness through environmental education must be imparted to the rural public of all age groups to understand about the pollution aspects connected with the industrialization, urbanization and population explosion.

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