PAPER TITLE :EVALUATION OF BACTERIA AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL QUALITIES OF TAR SAND SOIL FROM GBELEJULODA, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

FUTA JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE | VOLUME 9 NUMBER 1 2013

Paper Details

  • Author(s) : D. J. Arotupin, *A. S. Olalemi and D. M. Ijabamido
  • Abstract:

An investigation was carried out to determine the bacterial population and physicochemical characteristics of
soil samples collected from the tar sand deposit at Gbelejuloda in Irele Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Results revealed that the soils were clayey to brown in colour and clayey to silty-clay particle sizes. Other
characteristics examined were pH (2.68-5.06), moisture (44.20-50.18%), organic matter (0.91-4.55%), organic
carbon content (0.52-2.45%). The mineral constituents were magnesium (0.50-0.57ppm), calcium (1.0-1.2ppm),
potassium (0.19-0.43ppm), sodium (0.16-0.17ppm), nitrogen (0.46-0.67ppm) and phosphorus (3.25-8.27ppm).
Bacterial count ranged from 2.0×104 to 2.0×107 cfu/g. The isolates were identified as Proteus mirabilis,
Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas stulzeri, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus marcerans, Bacillus polymyxa,
Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria grayi. The pathogenic nature of the isolates, call for adequate precaution in
the course of exploring the tar sand.
Keywords: Tar sand, pathogenic, bacteria, physicochemical, minerals