ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to investigate the basic cations in soils surrounding network masts in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from the network masts surrounding at a soil depth of 0-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm respectively using a soil Auger. The soil sample was Air-dried under a shade, analyzed for chemical and physical properties. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance using Genstat statistical package. The difference between the means were separated using Duncan multiple range test at 5% level of probability. The findings showed that soil pH was slightly acid in all the locations, with chemical properties of soil around network masks high in 0-30cm soil depth across the locations. Total Organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and exchangeable cation higher in control groups (location 3) whose soils are not from network masks environments. At location1, 2 and 3, the highest Ca concentration was found in the 0-30 cm soil depth (1.94 cmol/kg), 1.68 cmol/kg and 0.69 cmol/kg respectively. The result showed that at location 1, potassium concentrations remained relatively consistent throughout the soil profile, with values of 0.47 cmol/kg, 0.29 cmol/kg, and 0.27 cmol/kg in the 0-30 cm, 30-60 cm, and 60-90 cm soil depth, respectively. At location 2, potassium concentrations were not significantly different across soil depths, with values of 0.48 cmol/kg, 0.44 cmol/kg, and 0.35 cmol/kg in the 0-30 cm, 30-60 cm, and 60-90 cm soil depth, respectively. The result showed that soil magnesium 0.49 cmol/kg, 0.49 cmol/kg and 0.203cmol/kg was highest in 0-30 soil depth at location 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The result of sodium is showed that at location 1, the soil sodium was highest (0.23 cmol/kg) at 0-30cm, at location 2, soil sodium was (highest 0.20 cmol/kg) at 0-30 soil depth and at location 3, soil sodium was highest (0.18 cmol/kg) at 30- 60 soil depth. The result showed that basic cations decrease with increase in soil depth. The finding also showed that there were no significant differences in basic cation across the locations. Total nitrogen showed a significant correlation with exchangeable cation, total organic carbon, available phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium. Finally, the findings showed that no significance difference were observed between the basic cations in different soil depth at different locations. This showed that network masks has no effect on soil basic cations.
