ABSTRACT

 This research work investigated the microbial respiration in soils of three land use types. Soil samples were collected at the depth of 0 - 15cm from each location composing of mechanic site soil, dump site soil and normal soil. The samples were replicated 4 times and analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. Microbial respiration was evaluated as Co2 evolved from soil samples over a ten week incubation period. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Means were separated using Fischer's least significant difference (LSD) at 0.05 level of probability. The results shows that all the soil studied were significantly the same in texture but different in pH values, being least in refuse dump. Mechanic village soil was found in organic carbon (5.51%), lead and cadmium. Lead in mechanic soil was also significantly higher than that in normal soil, (0.13). Cadmuim in mechanic village soil and refuse dump were significantly higher than levels in normal soil. (2.29, 0.41) respectively. On the other hand, the concentrations of exchangeable acidity, base saturation and Zinc were highest in refuse dump soil. Microbial respiration in both mechanic village and refuse dump soils were significantly higher from second week t0 sixth week than those in normal soil. At the tenth week microbial respiration was seen to be higher contaminated, which were also higher in organic matter.