Fertility Index and Microbial Population of Acid Sand Receiving Cassava Mill Effluent in of Uyo, Nigeria

Abstract

Edem ID and Udoinyng UC

A study was conducted to examine the changes in fertility and microbial indices of acid sand, under cassava effluent discharge at varying periods. Three cassava mill sites at Uyo discharging cassava effluent within three periods: less than 5 years discharge, 10 years discharge and 15 years discharges were used. Adjacent plots to each of the sites served as control. Soil samples were collected on the surface along the discharge strides in the morning, afternoon and evening. Measured soil nutrients were fitted into fertility index to determine the fertility status while total bacterial count, total fungal count for mold were the parameters used to assed the microbial count as influenced by cassava mill effluent discharge. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance at 5% probability level. Soil fertility index was greater in discharge site of 15 years (25) compared to 10 years (10), less than 5 years (7) and control (12). Total bacterial count was significantly high in site with 15 years discharge period (6.36cfug-1) compared to 10 years (2.88cfug-1), less than 5 years (2.72cfug-1) and control (3.83cfug-1). Total fungal count for mold was significantly high in site with 15 years discharge period (4.32cfug-1) compared to 10 years (3.27cfug-1), less than 5 years (2.18cfug-1) and control (3.77cfug-1). Calcium was significantly highest at noon (4.7cmol.kg-1) under less than 5 years period and in the morning (5.1cmol.kg-1) at site with 10 years period of discharge whereas Ca was highest in the evening (6.00 cmol.kg-1) in location that received effluent for 15 years. High soil fertility due to increase in population of microbes status was seen in the site receiving effluent for 15 years compared to other periods.

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