Abstract:
Anthropogenic activities are progressively releasing pollutants to the soil, including heavy metals
and other pollutants emanating from industries and overpopulated human settlements. Pollution by
heavy metals and other physicochemical materials is gradually becoming an area of concern,
especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The paper reviews the effects of anthropogenic activities on soil
ecosystem integrity including physicochemical parameters as well as biological parameters in the
soil. The review focuses on impact of the application of fertilisers in soil and seasonal influence in
levels of physicochemical parameters in soil ecosystem as well as microorganism population shifts
in soils affected by pollution as a need to alleviate soil contamination. The review established gaps
to further understanding of the relationship between soil physicochemical parameters, soil
biological parameters and influence of seasonality in the resilience of the soil ecosystem as a way
to foster the integrity of soil.