ASSESSING THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF CASSAVA MILL EFFLUENT ON SOIL MICROBIOLOGY AND PHYSICOCHEMISTRYSSESSING THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF CASSAVA MILL EFFLUENT ON SOIL MICROBIOLOGY AND PHYSICOCHEMISTRY

Abstract

This study examined the effects of cassava mill effluent on soil microbiological and physicochemical properties to evaluate its environmental implications. Soil samples from three sites (A-C) were analyzed for microbial diversity and abundance, with a focus on impacted soil contaminated with cassava effluent. Microbial analysis revealed the predominance of Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. (28.6%) among bacterial isolates, while Penicillium sp. (27.2%) was the most common fungal isolate. Impacted soil exhibited higher bacterial counts (7.8 × 10⁵ cfu/g), but fungal growth was suppressed. Physicochemical analysis indicated significant alterations in soil chemistry due to cassava mill effluent, with elevated levels of nitrogen (797 mg/l), potassium (459 mg/l), and phosphorus (432 mg/l) in impacted soil. However, the study also highlighted substantial heavy metal contamination, including copper and iron, posing toxicity risks. The findings suggest that cassava mill effluent enhances microbial activity but concurrently degrades soil quality. Antibiotic sensitivity testing revealed the resilience of certain isolates, such as Bacillus sp., with Ciprofloxacin exhibiting the highest inhibitory activity. The study concludes that while cassava mill effluent introduces beneficial nutrients for microbial growth, its acidity, heavy metal content, and potential to foster antibiotic-resistant microorganisms pose environmental and health risks. These findings emphasize the urgent need for effective effluent management practices to mitigate soil degradation and ecological imbalances.