Abstract
Experiment was carried out at Ambrose Alli University Teaching and Research Farm, Ekpoma, Edo State, to determine the effect of cassava mill effluent (CASME) on microbial population and composition in a soil planted to maize (Zea mays) in the screen-house and field. In the screen-house, cassava mill effluent (CASME) had five levels (0, 20, 40, 80 and 120 ml/kg soil) that were fitted into Completely Randomized Design and replicated thrice. For the field experiment, CASME also had five levels (0, 2, 025; 4,050; 8,100 and 12,150 L/ha) fitted into Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated three times. In both experiments, maize variety Swan-1 was used as test crop. The number and types of bacteria were determined in composite soil samples before the CASME was applied, eight (8) weeks after application in the screen-house and in the field and at the end of the experiment (15 weeks after application in the field). Results revealed that the pre-treated soil had less populations of bacteria (31x103 cfu/g) and fungi (21x103 cfu/g) when compared to 16 x 104 cfu/ml and 4x104 cfu/ml of CASME. At eight weeks in the screen-house, the population of bacteria and fungi increased with increased level of application. The species of bacteria and fungi that predominated were Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger, respectively. In the field at eight (8) weeks and fifteen (15) weeks after application, results showed that the total viable counts for bacteria and fungi in soils increased with increased level of application of cassava mill effluent. Bacillus subtilis and Penicillium notatum were the dominant species of bacteria and fungi, respectively.
Keywords:
composition
population
microbial
effluent
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