Identification and Isolation of Fungi in Abattoir and Poultry Amended Plots in Ilorin, Southern Guinea Savanna

Abstract

Traditional methods for soil remediation are often expensive and energy consuming and this has given rise to a new and ecologically safer method known as mycoremediation. A field experiment was carried out at the University of Ilorin Dam site to isolate and identify fungi present in organic amended plots which are capable of remediating heavy metal polluted soil of Asa River. Randomized Complete Block design in split plot arrangement was adopted using two treatments: Poultry Dropping (PD) and Abattoir Effluent (AE) at five levels i.e control, 1.3 t/ha, 2.6 t/ha, 1.3 t/ha+NPK120KgN, 2.6t/ha+NPK120KgN for abattoir effluent, and poultry droppings at control, 10t/ha, 15t/ha, 10t/ha+NPK120KgN and 15 t/ha+NPK120KgN having three (3) replicates. Soil samples collected before and after planting were analysed for heavy metals (Mn, Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Cr, Cd) using Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer. Result obtained showed that organic waste are effective in bioremediation of Asa River sediment with abattoir effluent having a reduction of 99.04% and poultry dropping 98.72% of heavy metal concentration in the soil which varied in the order of: Mn>Fe>Pb>Zn>Cu>Co>Ni>Cr>Cd. Result obtained also showed that eleven metal resistant Fungi were identified from abattoir effluent and poultry dropping amended plots i.e Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride,Fusarium solani, Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus flavus, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichophyton verrusocum, Fusarium oxysporum, Stachybotrys chartarum, Aspergillus ustus andMicrosporum nanum. Aspergillus niger was observedtohave the highest population (19% in poultry droppings and 19.6% in abattoir effluent).