Qualitative Analysis of Physio-Chemical Parameters of Soil to Underline the Effects of Pipeline Laying on Soil Fertility

Agricultural land constitutes the most important part of a geological component of a country in terms of economy and prosperity. The virtue of an agricultural land solely resides on the type and composition of soil type and quality of that region. The laying of an underground pipeline might affect the soil quality and productivity of the specific area. In addition to this, there is a potential threat of leakage of sediments, pathogens, sewage, waste water or hydrocarbons/chemicals, or other contaminants into the ground. The present study aims to investigate the effects of laying a hydrocarbon pipeline on the soil quality thereby its productivity in two different regions of Gujarat state (Gandhinagar, Bharuch) India. The post-employment effects of pipeline laying on soil quality and productivity were evaluated and the results were interpreted. The parameters for quality check of soil contamination due to pipeline laying included pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content, available nitrogen, and heavy metal content. The results obtained suggested negligible degradation of soil quality by the underlying pipelines and provided positive results for utilization in several purposes including agriculture. The modelling and analysis of various parameters also supported the same.