ABSTRACT
The impact of oil industry activities on the vegetation was
studied at Alam, Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria The
study evaluated the effect of oil spillage on the occurrence, abundance and
volunie of plait species on the affected areas of the Community as well as on
the soil fertility status of Afarn agricultural land. Three sites, namely: the
heavily, tightly and non-aiTheted areas, were selected for study. In each of'
these areas, a 1 00 x I 00m block was demarcated and a transect (I 00m) was cut
across the blocks. The transect was divided into plots of 10 x I Om. Four plots
were selected at random from each block fOr detailed study. Plant species
within the plots were enumerated and soil samples collected from the center at
depths 0-1 5cm and I 5-30cm for analyses. It was found that oil spillage had an
adverse effect on the soil fertility status, especially organic carbon, f) I ,
muir ogeri, phosphorus, and the cat ion exchange capacity of' the area. The
analysis of variance of the soil fertility data collected from the area
revealed that there was significant difference (P> 0.05) between the non
affected and the heavily aflectcd areas in the f011owing nutrient elements:
P''. Organic matter, Organic carbon, potassium, phosphorus and cation exchange
capacity. There was no significant difference (1'-' 0.05) in nitrogen contents
between the affected and the non- atThcted areas. AlSO using both similarity
and richness indices, it was fOund that the three sites were not similar and
that the non-aflecied area was riches in plant species. The volume of the tree
species was found to (liffer. The volumes were I03,77m3. I47.77mn3and I 77.92m1
for the heavily, slightly and non afThcted areas respectively. It is
recommended that regular monitoring techniques should be adopted along the
pipeline and production sites to check accidental oil spillage and oil blow
out. Effort should also be made to conserve thc vegetation, especially through
planting of economic trees in areas afThcted by oil spillage.
IHEANACHO, C (2021). Impact Of Petroleum Exploration On The Vegetation Of Afam Comunity, Rivers State, Nigeria. Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Sep 07, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/impact-of-petroleum-exploration-on-the-vegetation-of-afam-comunity-rivers-state-nigeria-7-2
CHIDIADI, IHEANACHO. "Impact Of Petroleum Exploration On The Vegetation Of Afam Comunity, Rivers State, Nigeria" Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 22 Oct. 2021, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/impact-of-petroleum-exploration-on-the-vegetation-of-afam-comunity-rivers-state-nigeria-7-2. Accessed 07 Sep. 2024.
CHIDIADI, IHEANACHO. "Impact Of Petroleum Exploration On The Vegetation Of Afam Comunity, Rivers State, Nigeria". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 22 Oct. 2021. Web. 07 Sep. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/impact-of-petroleum-exploration-on-the-vegetation-of-afam-comunity-rivers-state-nigeria-7-2 >.
CHIDIADI, IHEANACHO. "Impact Of Petroleum Exploration On The Vegetation Of Afam Comunity, Rivers State, Nigeria" Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2021). Accessed 07 Sep. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/impact-of-petroleum-exploration-on-the-vegetation-of-afam-comunity-rivers-state-nigeria-7-2