ABSTRACT
Gas flaring is one of the most environmental problems through which greenhouse gases and other emissions are released. These emissions have high global warming potential and contribute to climate change which influence soil characteristics. This research study aimed to investigate the impact of gas flaring activities on soil microbial and physicochemical parameters in proximity to the gas flaring points.
Standard methodologies were employed to assess the total heterotrophic bacterial counts, total heterotrophic fungal counts, bacterial and fungal isolates, soil pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, moisture content, soil texture, organic carbon, organic matter, and various nutrient and heavy metal concentrations.
The total bacterial and total fungal count increased as the distance from the gas flare increased ranging from 6.50±1.50 x 105 cfu/g to 44.00±1.00 x 105 cfu/g and 2.00±1.00 x 105 cfu/g to 17.00±2.00 x 105 sfu/g respectively. The most prevalent bacteria isolate as the distance increased from the gas flare was Salmonella enterica, accounting for 34.45% of the occurrences. Others were Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter kobei, Pantoea agglomerans, Paenibacillus tyrfis and Clostridium argentinense. More so, the most frequently isolated fungi as the distance increased from the gas flare points was Aspergillus niger (53.85%). Other were Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillus tubingensis and Pichia kudriavzevii. Soil pH, temperature and Moisture content increased as the distance from the gas flare increased with values ranging from 4.25 to 6.75, 30.00°C to 65.50°C and 0.99% to 3.68% respectively. Soil temperature and electrical conductivity decreased as the distance from the gas flare increased. The lowest potassium content (0.04±0.00%) was observed at 0 m, while the highest (0.48±0.01%) was recorded at 90 m. Nitrate, ammonium, and chloride content in the soil samples also increased with distance from the gas flaring point. The lowest nitrate (1.20±0.20 ppm), ammonium (8.53±0.03 ppm), and chloride (0.24±0.03 mg/kg) content were observed at 0 m, while the highest nitrate (4.30±0.10 ppm), ammonium (13.57±0.02 ppm), and chloride (0.67±0.02 mg/kg) content were recorded at 90 m. Concentration of nitrite, phosphorus, sulphate, calcium, and magnesium in the soil samples also showed significant variations with distance from the gas flaring point. The highest nitrite concentration was observed at 90 m (0.10±0.00 ppm). Phosphorus content increased significantly from 0 m (0.90±0.10 ppm) to 90 m (11.06±1.04 ppm). Sulphate content increased from 0 m (0.40±0.02 ppm) to 90 m (1.41±0.01 ppm). Iron concentration did not show significant differences across all sample points. Calcium concentration increased from 0 m (271.50±0.50 mg/kg) to 90 m (550.00±0.00 mg/kg). Magnesium concentration increased from 0 m (430.50±0.50 mg/kg) to 90 m (511.75±0.25 mg/kg). Gas flaring activities significantly increased the concentrations of lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and vanadium (V) in the soil, indicating heavy impact. Cadmium (Cd) was not detected, while nickel (Ni) showed a gradual increase with distance from the gas flaring point, while chromium (Cr) concentrations did not exhibit a significant increase. Iron (Fe) concentration did not show significant variations with distance from the gas flaring point. In conclusion, this research provides valuable insights into the microbial and physicochemical changes induced by gas flaring activities, highlighting the importance of monitoring and mitigating the potential environmental consequences associated with this industrial practice.
