Impact of Petroleum Exploration on the Vegetation of Afam Community, Rivers State Nigeria:- Iheanacho, Moses C.

ABSTRACT

The impact of oil industry activities on the vegetation was studied at Afam, Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria The study evaluated the effect of oil spillage Community as well as on the soil fertility status of Afam agricultural land. Three sites, namely: the heavily, tightly and non-affected areas, were selected for study. In each of these areas, a 100 x 100m block was demarcated and a transect (100m) was cut across the random from each block for detailed study. enumerated and soil samples collected from the center at depths 0-15cm and 15-30cm for analyses. It was found that oil spillage had an adverse effect on the soil fertility status. especially organic carbon, p11, nitrogen, phosphorus, and the cation 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 alfcctcd areas in the following nutrient elements: P11, Organic matter, Organic difference (P> 0.05) in nitrogen contents between the affected and the non- affected areas. Also using both similarity and richness indices, it was found that the three sites I' of the tree species 177.92m1 for the heavily, slightly and non affected 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 the vegetation, especially through planting of economic trees in areas affected by oil spillage. were not similar and that the non-affected area was riches in plant species. The volume carbon, potassium, phosphorus and cation exchange capacity.