Abstract:
The environmental and socio-economic effects of mining activities on agricultural practices in
selected mining locations in Ondo, Oyo and Plateau States had been carried out. Soil samples
from selected agro-mining sites were collected at a distance of 10m apart and an approximate
depth of 30cm. NH3, Organic and Moisture Content were analyzed in the laboratory using
Kjeldahl, Black Wet Oxidation and Oven Dry methods respectively. pH was analyzed using pH
meter. Calcium, Sodium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Lead and Nickel were analyzed in the
laboratory using Buck Scientific Model 200 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) in
accordance with American Standard for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Water Samples from
ponds and streams within mining sites were taken using sampling bottles at about 30cm depth
below the water surface downstream and 2km upstream at 30cm depth below the water surface
to act as control. Physical parameters such as pH, Conductivity, Total Suspended Solid, Colour,
Turbidity were analyzed and chemical parameters such as, Sulphate, Nitrate, Alkalinity,
Chloride, Hardness, Phosphate, and Calcium Samples were also analyzed. The chemical analyses
results of soil and water samples showed that some mining locations contained high and low
level of heavy metals when compared with Food and Agricultural FAO and World Health
Organization WHO standards. The soil samples show high level of depletion of important plant
nutrients, such as iron content, Organic content and Soil pH were depleted in the studied
locations. Water quality parameter such as Nitrate, pH, Electrical Conductivity, Alkalinity,
Chloride, and Phosphate were unconformable with WHO standards. The result of Socio economic analyzes based on well structured questionnaire issued to the host communities show
that consequences of mining activities were not limited to distortion of soil landscape but also
include extinction of some animals, poor agricultural productivity, health problems, lack of
education, communal conflicts and structural damages.
