Changes in soil characteristics around coal-fired power plants

Abstract

The impact of coal-fired power plant emissions on certain physical and chemical properties of the soil was studied. A significant increase in bulk density and a decrease in porosity were observed at the sites receiving higher pollution than the control site. Soil pH was mostly alkaline at the polluted sites. The organic carbon content of the soil increased with increasing pollution load. Thermal power plant emissions have led to significant increases in the soil sulphate sulphur and exchangeable calcium contents, while reducing significantly total nitrogen. Reduction in total-N was positively correlated with the N-mineralization rate. The changes in total and organic sulphur, exchangeable potassium, and available phosphorus contents of soil were not significant. Significant positive correlations were found between dust fall rate and exchangeable Ca2+ and K+ contents of the soil and between ambient SO2 concentrations and soil SO42--S contents. The values of trace elements such as Mn, Fe, Cd Cu, Pb, and Ni were higher at sites closer to thermal power plants. © 1995.