Interactions of trace metals with bacteria and fungi in selected agricultural soils of Egbema Kingdom, Warri North, Delta state, Nigeria

This study was aimed at investigating the relationship of trace metals with prevalence of bacteria and fungi in polluted farmland of Egbema Kingdom, Delta state. This may contribute to the knowledge on the influence of the microorganism to the arability of agricultural soil from an ecotoxicological viewpoint. Soil samples were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters and trace metals using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Buck Scientific, 210VGP). The samples were also screened for fungi and bacteria isolates. Trace metals (Fe, Zn, Cd, Ni and Cu) determined in the agricultural soils of Egbema kingdom were below WHO limits. The fungi species with the highest number of occurrence was Aspergillus niger, while the species with the lowest occurrence were Fusarium oxsporium, Penicillium dirty white, and Penicillium sp. The order of abundance of fungi across the stations was Station 2> Station 4> Station 3> Station 1> Station 7> Station 5> Station 6> Station 9> Station 8. The bacteria species with the highest number of occurrence was Proteus sp I, while the species with the lowest occurrence was Alcaligenes sp. which occurred only once at Station 5. The order of abundance of bacteria in the soil samples across the stations was Station 4> Station 3> Stations 5 and 9> Station 2> Station 8> Station 7> Station 6. All trace metals in the agricultural soils of Egbema kingdom were below WHO limits. Fe, Zn, Cd and Ni showed no relationship with the microbial contents of the soil. Various strains of fungi and bacteria (gram positive and gram negative) were observed in the soil samples. An antagonistic relationship was observed between bacteria and fungi. Significant positive correlation occurred between the concentration of copper and bacteria counts indicating that the concentration of copper in the soil might have enhanced the abundance of bacteria in the soil, vice versa. The bacteria might be a promising tool in regulation of soil copper concentration.