ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT OF LAND USES AND SOME SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES ON THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF BACTERIA IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been a growing awareness of the need to understand how land use change and soil chemical properties impact on soil bacteria communities. This study was carried out to assess the spatial distribution of bacteria species as affected by land use changes and soil chemical properties. The study was conducted in Okitipupa and Irele local governments, southwest, Nigeria. Five land uses were identified in the study area: forest land, oil palm plantation, farmland, watershed and residential area. Soil samples were collected from each of the land uses at 0-30 cm, analysed for chemical properties and bacteria count. Data were analysed using ANOVA at 0.05 probability level. The results showed that, forest land recorded the highest bacteria counts with 1410.10 cfug1 and 1086.96cfug1 in Okitipupa and Irele local governments. The least count of bacteria was found in the residential area with 990.21 cfug1 and 774.97 cfug1 in Okitipupa and Irele local governments respectively. It was also found that forest land with moderate to higher nitrogen and soil organic carbon recorded high bacteria over other land uses. Conclusively, land use changes and soil chemical properties impact some variabilities on the distribution of soil bacteria which could be used to monitor soil health either for agricultural or environmental purposes.