ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to isolate, identify and compare microorganisms from cultivated and uncultivated soils. A total of 20 soil samples were obtained from 5 different communities in Ikwuano L.G.A and evaluated using standard microbiological methods. The Physiochemical properties of freshly collected soil samples were also determined using standard methods. A total of 9 bacterial isolates and 5 fungal isolates were isolated from both soil samples. The total viable, total anaerobic and total fungal counts of the microbial isolates were identified from samples of both soils, with variations in their ranges according to soil samples and isolates identified. The total viable count, total anaerobic count and total fungal count for the uncultivated soil samples ranged from 2.8-9.4,2.5-9.7 and 2.3-8.6cfu/g respectively and from 3.2-11.1, 1.5-8.8, 1.9-8.4 cfu/g for the cultivated soil samples. On comparison, it was found that uncultivated soil types had higher amount of fungi than the cultivated whereas the cultivated soil types had higher population of bacteria than fungi, this is because of the variations in the properties of the various soil types, the effects of tillage operations and changes in the physiochemical properties of the soil.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Cover Page i
Title Page ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Table of Contents vi
List of Table viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Aim and Objectives
of the Study
2
CHAPTER TWO
Literature Review
2.1 Soil 3
2.1.1. Uncultivated Soil 3
2.1.2 Cultivated Soil 4
2.1.3 History of soil
cultivation 5
2.1.4 Soil cultivation
systems 5
2.1.4.1 Reduced soil
cultivation 5
2.1.4.2 Intensive soil
cultivation 5
2.1.5 Conservation soil
cultivation 5
2.2 Soil Microorganisms 6
2.2.1 Types of
Microorganism found in soil 9
2.2.1.1 Bacteria 10
2.2.1.2 Actinomycetes: 11
2.2.1.3 Fungi: 12
2.2.1.4 Algae: 13
2.2.3 Factors driving
soil microbial communities 15
2.2.4 Distribution of
Microorganism in soil 16
2.2.5 Microorganism
Population in Soil 16
2.2.7 Antimicrobial
activity in soil microflora 17
2.2.8 Importance of
Microbes in soil 18
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Study Area and
Sample Collection 19
3.2 Sterilization of
materials 19
3.3 Media preparation 19
3.4 Microbiological
Analysis
19
3.4.1 Isolation of Bacteria
20
3.4.2 Identification,
characterization and estimation of bacterial isolates 20
3.4.3 Isolation and identification of fungi
21
3.5 Determination of
physicochemical properties of soil samples 21
3.6 Statistical Analysis 21
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0
RESULTS
22
4.1 Microbial Counts 23
4.2
Presumptive isolates identified 24
4.3 Cultural and
Biochemical characteristics of bacterial isolates 25
4.4
Physicochemical properties of soil samples
26
4.2 Discussion
27
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Conclusion 30
5.2 Recommendation 31
References 32
Appendix 42
LIST OF TABLES
Tables Title Page
Table 4.1
Microbial Counts of isolates
identified 23
Table
4.2: Presumptive isolates
identified 24
Table
4.3: Cultural and Biochemical
characteristics of bacterial isolates identified. 25
Table
4.4: Physiochemical
properties of soil samples 26
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction
Soil
corresponds to the surface layer of the Earth's crust (lithosphere). The soil
represents a favorable habitat for microorganisms and is inhabited by a wide
range of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, algae, viruses and protozoa
etc. Microorganisms are found in
large numbers in the soil usually between one and ten million microorganisms
are present per gram of soil with bacteria and fungi being the most prevalent
(Dhanjal and Cameotra, 2010). However, the availability of nutrients is often
limiting for microbial growth in soil and most soil microorganisms may not be
physiologically active in the soil at the given time.
Microorganisms have been evolving for nearly
4 billion years and are capable of exploiting a vast range of energy sources.
Microbial life is widely distributed, provided there is life on earth there is
microbial life. Microscopic organisms include the bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa
etc. and are found in virtually all possible environmental conditions on earth.
From the tropics to the Arctic and Antarctica, in underground mines and oil
fields to the stratosphere and on the top of great mountains, from deserts to
the dead sea, from above-ground hot springs to undersoil hydrothermal vents.
(Xu, 2006). Most of all of the basic biochemistries of life evolved from
microbes. It is estimated that half of the living protoplasm on this planet is
microbial. Micro-organisms have been integral to the history and function of
life on Earth. They have played central roles in Earth’s climatic and
biological evolution (Xu, 2006). Diverse microorganisms are essential to
sustainable biosphere and are able to recycle nutrients, produce and consume
harmful gases, help in bioremediation and biocontrol agents for plant and
animal pests. (Kalia and Purohit 2008).
Soil is heavily populated by microorganisms,
with an estimated prokaryotic density of 109 cells g-1 in
the top meter and 108 cells g-1 from 1 to 8 meters’ depth (Whitman, 2008). The
majority of this microbial biomass represents uncharacterized diversity and
“within the soil microbial population, there is a wealth of genetic information
waiting to be discovered” (Kennedy and Smith, 1995). Soil microorganisms
provide indispensable services, including enabling crop production through
agriculture, sustainability of animal productivity, and air and water quality
regulation. These services depend on land management practices ensuring the
maintenance of soil health, which is understood as the functioning of the
underlying processes that maintain the capacity of soil to support life (Doran
and Zeiss 2000). The microbiological component of soil is responsible for
originating and consuming nutrients during biogeochemical cycling, which
regenerates and maintains soil quality (Collins et al., 2012). Organic matter degradation (Brussaard, 1997), pest
control (Weller, 2008), and soil structure maintenance (Tisdall and Oades,
2002) are other examples of microbial life-supporting processes in soil. Therefore, the soil may have different
conditions for growth of microorganism as a natural environment.
1.1 Aim and Objectives of
the Study
1. To
isolate and identify microorganisms in the top soil profile from 5 communities
in Ikwuano LGA, Abia State, using culture based methods.
2. To
estimate and compare microbial composition and load using viable pour plate
technique
3. To
determine the physicochemical characteristics using standard laboratory
procedure.
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