Evaluation of the Microbial Profile of a Kerosene Polluted Soil

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated microbial profile of a kerosene polluted soil. Kerosene- polluted soil samples were collected from kerosene-polluted sites within Owerri, Imo State. The soil samples were collected from the surface (0cm), 5cm and 10cm depths. Standard microbiological methods were adopted in the isolation and identification of microorganisms from the kerosene polluted environment. Results showed that total viable bacterial counts ranged from 2.8 * 10 ^ 6 cfiu/g to 1.16 * 10 ^ 7 cfu/g, total coliform count ranged from 8 * 10 ^ 5 cfiu/g to 1.4 * 10 ^ 6 cfiu/g to 1.2 x 106 cfu/g while total fungal count ranged from 2 * 10 ^ 5 cfiu/g to 8 * 10 ^ 5 cfiu/g. The control soil sample had the highest microbial load compared to the kerosene polluted soil samples. Bacterial isolates were; Corynebacterium, Bacillus, Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, Klebsiella and Flavobacterium species. Fungal isolates were; Aspergillus, Mucor, Penicillum and Rhizopus species. The results of this study revealed the kerosene contamination of soil affects the microbial diversity of the soil. Top soil samples had less microbial load compared to 5 cm and 10 cm soil samples. This shows that kerosene contamination is disadvantage to agricultural soil. Care should be taken during offloading of kerosene to avoid spillage which could pollute the soil.