Microbial and Physicochemical Characteristics of Cassava Mill Effluents Receiving Soil in Abraka and Environs, Delta State

Abstract

The microbial and physicochemical characteristics of soils receiving cassava mill waste water in
Abraka and Oria, Delta State, Nigeria were assessed. The isolation and enumeration of microbial
population was carried out using standard culture based methods while standard analytical
methods were used for assessing the physicochemical characteristics. The mean bacterial count
for contaminated soils were 1.53 × 105 ± 0.03 cfu/g and 1.90 × 105± 0.10 cfu/g and 2.10 × 105 ±
0.15 cfu/g and 8.80×105 ± 0.23 cfu/g , for control soils. The mean fungal counts were 3.0 × 103
± 0.10 cfu/g and 2.0 ×103 ±0.50 cfu/g for contaminated soil while 5.5 ×105 ± 0.50 cfu/g and
2.5×103± 0.10 cfu/g for control soils. The microorganisms isolated from contaminated and
control soils were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus
spp., Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Rhizopus., and Mucor
spp. Results obtained from physicochemical parameters assessment varied, however soils
receiving cassava effluents showed increase in various parameters determined as compared with
control soils. The study revealed that cassava mill effluent may have some deleterious effect on
soil structure, soil microorganisms and soil characteristics compared with control soil. Cassava
mill waste water should be treated before released into the environment to prevent pollution of
soil and water bodies.