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ABSTRACT
Use of pre-emergence herbicides for weed control and management has resulted in more efficient use of Agricultural land for cultivation and ensuring crops are established and reducing host plants from disease pathogens. This study was carried out to identify the effects of herbicide on pathogenic organisms in the rhizosphere of cassava (Manihot esculenta). A soil analysis was conducted on soil samples collected from an already established cassava field at Greenhills farm Ologbo, located at Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State at soil depth of 15 cm and 30 cm. the soil samples obtained were analyzed for their physical, chemical and microbial composition and phenotypic virulence of the bacterial isolates, the results were analyzed for significant difference at 5% level of probability using LSD Test in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Results from the experiment indicated a variation of the physical and chemical properties of the rhizospheric soils from control. It was observed that preemergence herbicide application had no direct effect on pathogenic organisms found in the rhizosphere soils and the bacteria identified were not responsible for the more deadly diseases of cassava, but their activities could aid tuber rot. The specific bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere soils were Klebsiella species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes and Bacillus subtilis. Klebsiella species showed a virulence of 75% as compared to the other bacteria isolates with 50% prevalence respectively.
