Abstract

                                The present study deals with surveying and analyzing the Fluoride concentration in the Reddiyarchatram block of Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu and establishing a correlation coefficient with the other soil chemical properties. The result indicated that water soluble fluoride content forms a negative correlation with soil pH, signifying that soil pH plays a prominent role in the solubility of fluoride. Water-soluble fluoride content has a positive relationship with soil available nitrogen, potassium and sodium indicating that presence of F in the soil increase their availability and vice versa. Soil phosphorus forms a significant positive correlation with fluoride. It says that increase in P content increases soil F. Also, a soil organic carbon and calcium presence affects the water soluble fluoride content as they form a significant negative correlation. Water-soluble fluoride forms a negative relationship with soil electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, available potassium and sodium, suggesting these factors play a major role in F availability in soils. Results concluded from the present study show soils with low pH, low organic matter content, high phosphorus, and low calcium plays a prominent role in F solubility from the fluoride-bearing minerals which directly increase the concentration of the water soluble fluoride in the upper layers of the soil.

Key words : Fluoride;Soil;Contamination;Correlation;chemical properties