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 Agriculture, Umudike Abia State where four 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 properties. One uncontaminated agricultural soil (UnCs) sample was used as control. Mean counts of microorganisms in urine contaminated soil had a high count of (8.1 x 108) for total aerobic plate, Escherichiacoli (6.6 x 107) and fungi (4.0 x 107) as compared with the control which had a lower count (3.6 x 108) for total aerobic plate, Escherchiacoli (3.5 x 107) and fungi (3.3 x 107) respectively. Bacteria isolated included Staphylococcus (19.33%), Pseudomonas spp (15.13%), Klebsiella spp. (10.08%), Bacillus spp. (14.29%). The most frequently isolated fungi from UrCs included Aspergillus (44.64%), Mucor spp (17.86%), Candida (26.79%), Fusarium (10.71%). Physicochemical analysis of urine contaminated and uncontaminated soil samples showed that conductivity, moisture content, total organic carbon, nitrate ion, phosphate ion, sulphate ion and total nitrogen were higher in the urine contaminated soil than in uncontaminated soil while the pH of uncontaminated soil (4.5) was higher than the contaminated soil (4.1). The growth of maize with urine contaminated and uncontaminated soil revealed that urine enhanced the growth of maize as a result of increased microbial load and some essential elements such as Total Nitrogen, Organic carbon, Nitrate ion, Sulphate ion among others. There was significant difference between the control and the test groups for the fungi count (p>0.05) while there was no significant difference (p<0.05) between the control and test groups for E. coli count likewise for total aerobic plate count.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgements iv

Table of Contents v

List of Tables viii

List of Plates ix

List of Figures x

Abstract xi

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

1.0.1 The soil microbiota 3

1.0.2 Storage of urine 5

1.0.3 Urine as a fertilizer 5

1.0.4 Merits of urine as a fertilizer 6

1.0.5 Demerits of urine as fertilizers 6

1.0.6 Effects of human urine on the physicochemical properties of soil 7

1.1 Aims and objectives of the study 8

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 9

2.1 Physical properties of soil 10

2.1.1 Soil pH 10

2.1.2 Soil colour 11

2.1.3 Soil texture 12

2.1.4 Soil structure 12

2.1.5 Porosity 13

2.1.6 Density 13

2.2 Chemical properties of soil 14

2.2.1 Soil Organic Matter 14

2.2.2 Soil Salinity 14

2.2.3 Soil temperature 15

2.2.4 Soil water 15

2.3 Physicochemical parameters of soil 16

2.4 Biological properties of soil 16

2.4.1 Soil Microflora 16

2.4.2 Soil Fauna 18

2.4.3 Actinobacteria 18

2.4.4 Fungi 18

2.4.5 Mycorrhizae 19

2.4.6 Earthworms, ants and termites 20

2.4.7 Soil Bacteria 20

2.5 Nitrogen cycle 21

2.5.1 Nitrification 21

2.5.2 Nitrogen fixation 22

2.5.3 Dentrification 22

2.6 Urine 22

2.6.1 Urine Contaminated Soil 23

2.6.2 Process of urine production 23

2.6.3 Composition of urine 24

2.6.4 Characteristics of Urine 24

2.6.4.1 Chemical analysis 24

2.6.4.2 Colour 24

2.6.4.3 Odour 25

2.6.4.4 Turbidty 26

2.6.4.5 pH 26

2.9.4.6 Density 26

2.9.4.7 Quantity/Volume 27

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHOD

3.1 Study area 28

3.2 Sample collection 28

3.3 Analysis of samples 29

3.3.1 Physicochemical analysis of soil 29

3.3.1.1 Sterilization method 29

3.3.2 Microbial Analysis 29

3.3.2.1 Sample inoculation 29

3.3.2.2 Quantitative estimation of bacterial and fungal isolates 29

3.3.2.3 Colony purification 30

3.3.2.4 Identification of bacterial isolates 30

3.3.2.5 Gram Staining Reaction 30

3.3.2.6 Spore Staining Technique 30

3.3.2.7 Motility Test 31

3.3.3 Biochemical Test 31

3.3.3.1 Methyl Red and Voges – Proskauer (MRVP) 31

3.3.3.2 Methyl Red Test 31

3.3.3.3 Voges-Proskauer Test 32

3.3.3.4 Indole Production 32

3.3.3.5 Catalase 32

3.3.3.6 Coagulase 32

3.3.3.7 Citrate Test 33

3.3.3.8 Oxidase Test 33

3.3.4 Identification of Fungal Isolates 33

3.3.4.1 Wet preparation 33

3.3.4.2Colonial Morphology 33

3.4 Calculation of percentage of occurrence 33

3.5 Statistical analysis 34

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS 35

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Discussion 45

5.2 Conclusion 46

5.3 Recommendations 47

REFERENCES

APPENDIX