Microbiological and Physicochemical Studies of Wetland Soils in Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Funmilayo V Doherty, Abdullahi Adeola, Godwin O Ovioma, Idowu A Aneyo, Ruqeeyat O Binuyo

The Microbiological and Physicochemical characteristics of wetland soils in Alimosho Local Government Area, Nigeria were studied during the dry season in 2015. Total Heterotrophic Bacterial Counts (THBC) and Total Fungal Counts (TFC) were determined using standard procedures from four locations at 2-20cm depths during the dry season. Microbial isolates were characterized and identified. Chemical parameters were also determined using UV-VIS Spectrophotometer. THBC ranged from 7.0×103cfu/g to 2.0×103 cfu/g for the different locations of the site. The THBC for the control site was 5.0×103 cfu/g, Site 1 was 2.0×103 cfu/g, Site 2 was 7.0×103 cfu/g and Site 3 was 3.0×103 cfu/g. TFC ranged from 8.0×103 cfu/g to 3.0×103cfu/g for different locations of the site. The TFC for the control site was 4.0×103 cfu/g, Site1 was 3.0×103 cfu/g, Site2 was 8.0×103 cfu/g, and Site3 was 3.0×103 cfu/g respectively. Bacillus sp, Staphylococcus sp, Pseudomonas sp, Klebsiella sp, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Streptococcus species which were identified by biochemical test were predominate bacteria while Aspergillus sp, Penicillium sp, Rhizopus sp, Mucor sp and Fusarium sp which were also identified macroscopically and microscopically were the dominant fungi genera isolated. The physicochemical results showed values which ranged from 1957.33mg/kg to 2703.88mg/kg for Iron, 122.87mg/kg to 172.95mg/kg for Zinc, 24250.12mg/kg to 31832.45mg/kg for Potassium, 8078.48mg/kg to 12269.17mg/kg for Calcium, 0.17ppm to 0.30ppm for Phosphate and 0.04ppm to 0.8ppm for Nitrite. The pH ranged from 5.14 to 6.52 and Temperature ranged from 25°C to 27.3°C. It was observed that the pH was generally acidic at all locations. Potassium dominated the exchangeable bases among the elements while phosphate and nitrite have the least occurrence. Though the presence of some minerals in higher amount in the soil may lead to increase in bacterial load and help the organisms in degrading a wide variety of organic material which will eventually lead to high yield productivity of agricultural products from the wetland. These results provide the baseline data of Alimosho wetland soils for its management and sustainable agriculture.