EFFECT OF HUMAN URINE ON THE MICROBIAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

ABSTRACT

Effect of human urine on the microbial and physicochemical properties of soil was investigated. The study was carried out in Michael Okpara University of Agricultural, Umudike, Abia State, where ten soil samples contaminated with human urine (UrCs) were randomly collected within the university campus from places noted for indiscriminate urination by students and analyzed for microbial and physicochemical property. Two Uncontaminated Agricultural soil (UnCS) samples were used as control. Mean counts of microorganisms in urine contaminated soil reviewed a high count of (2.24×109) for total aerobic plate, Salmonella- Shigella (7.85×106), Vibro cholera (5.10×106), Escherichia coli (8.45×106) and fungi (4.90×107) as compared with the control which reviewed a lower count of 7.22×107 for total aerobic plate, Salmonella- Shigella (4.25×106), Vibro cholera (5.00×106), Escherichia coli (5.00×106) and fungi (3.10×107) respectively. The Gram staining reaction of the soil samples showed that Gram negative organisms were more abundant in the UrCs than Gram positive organisms. Bacteria isolated included Staphylococcus spp (13.47%), Pseudomonas spp (12.76%) and Klebsiella spp (8.51%). The most frequently isolated fungi from UrCs included Candida spp (20.00%), Penicillium spp (12.50%), Aspergillus spp (27.50%) and Rhizopus (15.00%) as compared with the control which had Fusarium spp (8.75%), Mucor spp (11.25%) and Aspergillus spp (27.50%). Physicochemical analysis of urine contaminated and uncontaminated soil samples showed that conductivity, moisture content, total organic carbon, nitrate ion, phosphate ion, sulfate ion and total nitrogen were higher in the urine contaminated soil than in uncontaminated soil while the pH of uncontaminated soil (6.95) was higher than the contaminated soil (5.58). This indicated that prolonged exposure of soil to urine contamination could alter its microbial and physicochemical properties.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgments iv

Table of contents v

List of tables viii

Abstract

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Objectives 2

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Literature Review 3

2.1 The soil 3

2.2 Characteristics of Soil 5

2.2.1 Texture 6

2.2.2 Structure 6

2.2.3 Density 7

2.2.4 Porosity 8

2.2.5 Temperature 9

2.2.6 Colour 10

2.2.7 Resistivity 11

2.3 Soil Microflora 11

2.3.1 Nitrification 13

2.3.2 Nitrogen Fixation 13

2.3.3 Denitrification 13

2.3.4 Actinobacteria 14

2.3.5 Fungi 14

2.3.6 Mycorrhizae 15

2.3.7 Earthworms, Ants AndTermites 16

2.4 Urine 16

2.4.1 Physiology 16

2.4.2 Composition 17

2.5 Characteristics of Urine 18

2.5.1 Chemical Analysis 18

2.5.2 Colour 18

2.5.3 Odor 18

2.5.4 Turbidity 19

2.5.5 pH 19

2.5.6 Volume 20

2.5.7 Density 20

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Sample Collection 21

3.2 Physiochemical Analysis of Soil 21

3.3Sterilazation Method 21

3.4 Sample Inoculation 21

3.5Quantitative Estimation of bacteria and fungi isolates 22

3.6 Colony Purification 22

3.7 Identification of Bacteria Isolates 22

3.8. Gram Staining Reaction 22

3.8.1 Spore Staining Reaction 23

3.8.2 Motility Test 23

3.8.3Biochemical Test 24

3.8.3.1 Methyl Red AndVogesProkauer (Mrvp) 24

3.8.3.2 Indole Production 24

3.8.3.3 Catalase Test 25

3.8.3.4 Coagulase Test 25

3.8.3.5 Urea Hydrolysis 26

3.8.3.6 Citrate Test 26

3.8.3.7 Oxidase Test 26

3.9 Identification of Fungal Isolates 26

3.9.1 Wet Preparation 26

3.9.2 Colonial Morphology 27

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 RESULTS 28

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

5.1Discussion 34

5.2Conclusion 35

References 36

Appendix

LIST OF TABLES

Table Title Page

1. Mean microbial load in urine contaminated and uncontaminated soil 29

2. Range of total viable count of bacterial isolates 29

3. Bacterial isolated and their occurrence 31

4. Fungal isolated and their occurrence 32

5. Physicochemical analysis of urine contaminated and uncontaminated soil 33

CHAPTER ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION

The soil is a complex habitat, inhabited by a large number of different organisms (Prescott et al., 2006). Among these, Bacteria and fungi are the most important because they are responsible for the decomposition of organic matter and also make up the largest biomass in soil nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus and other cycles mediated by microbes.

Bacteria are the most abundant microorganisms in the soil and can attain concentrations of more than 108 cells per gram of soil or 1012 cells per gram of organic matter (Lovell and Jarris, 1996). Several studies conducted on the subject matter suggest that contamination of soil with urine could increase the availability of nitrogen, and essential soil nutrient (Klein and Longetst1994).

Though much study on organic pollutions and their resultant effect on the soil environment have been conducted, not much information are available on the effect of urine on soil environment especially of human origin. Human urine in itself is not toxic except when mixed with faeces in septic tanks and have been used as fertilizer for over 6,000 years. Kaiser stated that a lot of nitrogen in manure come from urea which is contained in urine as such human urine is a rich source of organic fertilizer.

Urine is a filtered product of the kidney which contains only low molecular weight substances and at excretion the pH is normally around 6.0 but can vary between 4.5 and 8.2 (Lentner and Wink, 1981). It was further shown by (Lentner and Wink,1981) that of the Nitrogen constituent of urine 75-90% is excreted as Urea and the remainder as ammonium and creatinine. In the presence of urease, urea is quickly degraded to ammonium and carbon dioxide and the hydroxide ionsproduced will invariably increase soil pH to about 9.0 – 9.3 and this usually occurs within hours of deposition (Vanneras et al., 1999 and Jonssen et al., 2000). But the continual deposition of urine at a spot can lead to a net acidification of the soil because the conversion of ammonium (NH₄) to nitrate (NO₃) involves release of protons, thereby promoting acidity. Whitehead and Bristow (1994), reported that the presence of urine of cattle origin in soil inhibited pasture response and there is a marked decline in soil pH in the urine patch following nitrification. This had earlier been demonstrated by (Ball et al., 1979) that application to pasture of urine from beef cattle resulted in soil acidification.

In Nigeria, urine deposition in public places go on unchecked and has become a menace, a close examination of such soil macrocosm reveals patchiness of soil, obvious discolouration, pungent ammoniacal smell. There is therefore the need to establish the effect of humanurine deposition on soil microflora.

1.1 Objective

1.  To determine the effect of urine on the soil microflora and physicochemical analysis.

2.  To isolate bacterial and fungal genera in the soil.

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