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