ABSTRACT

The increased utilization of processed cassava products has increased the environmental pollution associated with the disposal of effluents.The aim of this work was to assess the impact of cassava effluents on soil  around Ikwuano. A total of Five (5) samples was collected from Umuariaga cassava processing farm using sterile containers where one  gram (1g) of the samples of the polluted soils was serially diluted in ten folds. Total viable heterotrophic aerobic counts were determined by plating in duplicate using pour plate technique. A total of six (6) bacteria genera which belong to Bacillus specie, E. coli, Serratiamarcesens, Pseudomonas specie, Proteus and Micrococcus luteus. Total viable microbial count of degradation soil with contaminated Cassava effluents and non contaminated cassava effluents  samples shown in table 1. The samples had total aerobic plate count ranged from 4.7 x 105 to 8.2 x 105 cfu/g while the uncontaminated soil with Cassava effluents ranged from 2.0 x 105 to 5.0 x 105 cfu/g. The percentage occurrence of the bacterial isolates which shows that E.coli 28% had the highest percentage occurrence while Pseudomonas had the least percentage occurrence of 4%.The effluent from cassava plant when discharged on soil causes physiochemical and microbiological changes in the soil which calls for serious concern if the soil will be used for agricultural and other purposes.There is therefore the need for an introduction of regulations to control the disposal of effluent generated from cassava.