ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIA PRESENT IN ANTHILL SOIL

ABSTRACTS

Soil fertility management has been described by many scholars as fundamental and a major hinderance to food production amongst small holder farmers in the developing world. To counteract this challenge, some farmers have been reported to use anthill soil as an alternative fertilizer to improve soil fertility for supporting crop growth.

This study was conducted to investigate the bacteriological profile of anthill soil within the University of Benin and Residential locations around the campus. Two (2) samples were taken from two locations and two samples each was taken outside the school premises in Ekosodin and BDPA. Standard bacteriological methods were used to analyze the isolates from different locations. Total heterotrophic count was obtained using pour plate method. After culturing, incubating and carrying out biochemical tests, the following seven (7) isolates were found from the samples Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella boydii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus sp., Staphyloccus sp., Micrococcus luteus and Corynebacterium sp.The highest percentage frequency of occurrence was recorded for Klebsiella pneumonia and Bacillus sp.and is 75% across the four locations. The results obtained from the study revealed that the heterotrophic bacterial count (Log₁₀ cfu/g) of the anthill soils analyzed ranged from 7.42 ± 0.02 Cfu/g to 6.17 ± 0.08 Cfu/g. Isolates from the anthill soil have been shown in other studies to promote plant growth and contribute to the functioning of the ecosystem.