EFFECT OF HUMAN URINE ON THE MICROBIAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

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