Factorial Analysis of Soil pH as a Function of Its Moisture Content and Distance from Flare
Abstract
This paper presents a derived model which predicts the soil pH based on its soil moisture content and distance from flare point. The response coefficient of the soil pH to the distance from flare point and soil moisture content was evaluated to ascertain the viability and reliability of the highlighted dependence. Results of series of evaluations carried out indicate that the correlations between soil pH and distance from flare point & soil moisture content as evaluated from the actual and modelpredicted results were all ˃ 0.88. Standard errors incurred in obtaining results of soil pH based on distance from flare point & moisture content were 0.08 and 0.07 & 0.076 and 0.06%, as obtained from actual and model-predicted results respectively. The validity of the model; ξ = - 0.0496 β2 – 1.5 x10-7ϑ + 0.7122β + 0.0003ϑ + 2.5408 was rooted on the insignificant maximum deviation of model-predicted values of soil pH from the corresponding actual values which was less than 1.1%. This translated into over 98.9% operational confidence level for the derived model as well as over 0.98 response coefficient of soil pH to the combined operational influence of distance from flare point and soil moisture content.
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Introduction
Investigations [1] carried out to measure physicochemical parameters in flare sites have shown that pH of soil and rain-water samples are acidic in nature if collected at varied distances of 20, 50 and 100 m from flare points. This implies presence of acid rains and acid soils around the flare locations. The results of the investigation also reveal that soils and rain water are contaminated by heavy metals such as Cr, Cd, As, Pb, Zn, Fe. The research findings further show that higher concentration of air quality parameters (such as SO2, NO2, H2S, CO, VOC, SPM etc.) exists at least distances near the flare point and lower values at distances farther away from flare point.
Research [2] has shown that apart from the fact that gas flaring activities in the Niger-Delta region pose very serious environmental implications on the host communities, it is an economic wastage of natural resource to Nigeria. For example, acid compounds are formed when NOx and SO2 gases contained in gas flares reacts with water. This has placed gas flaring as being responsible for the acid rain syndrome often experienced in the Niger Delta region.
It has been revealed [1] that high pollution loads are imposed on gas flaring environments arising from increased pH of soil and acid rain concentrations (due to gas emissions), abnormal air temperature (due to flare radiation), heavy metal concentration and poor air quality due to flare emissions (particularly CO, NO2, SO2, smoke and particulate matter contents). This has impacted negatively on human habitats and as a result, no meaningful human activity can take place at gas flaring locations within radial distances < 2 km away from flare point.
Some undermining effects of gas flaring on locations and its inhabitants has been reported [3] to include poor soil fertility (due to soil pH, heavy metals and toxics pollution), health hazards (such as skin problems, cancer, reproductive health problems, respiratory disorders etc.), climate change (bringing about flooding).
Conclusion
Following derivation of a model for prediction of the soil pH based on its soil moisture content and distance from flare point, the correlations between soil pH and distance from flare point & soil moisture content as evaluated from the actual and modelpredicted results were all ˃ 0.88. Standard errors incurred in obtaining results of soil pH based on distance from flare point & moisture content were 0.08 and 0.07 & 0.076 and 0.06%, as obtained from actual and model-predicted results respectively. The validity of the model; ξ = - 0.0496 β2 – 1.5 x10-7ϑ + 0.7122β + 0.0003ϑ + 2.5408 was rooted on the insignificant maximum deviation of model-predicted values of soil pH from the corresponding actual values which was less than 1.1%. This translated into over 98.9% operational confidence level for the derived model as well as over 0.98 response coefficient of soil pH to the combined operational influence of distance from flare point and soil moisture content.