Özet:

This research evaluated soil quality and microbial population of Rivers State University Arboretum, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design (CRD) using systematic random sampling. A composite soil sample of 0 to 15 cm depth was collected using soil auger, showed that the soil physic-chemical properties were significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences between each three subplots in the soil pH of the soil samples collected. Plot I (6.8 ± 0.08) > Plot II (6.0 ± 0.02) > Plot III (6.5 ± 0.05). Soil electrical conductivity of the subplots of the arboretum significantly differed from each plots, P I (58.50 ± 0.04 µs/cm), P II (47.30 ± 0.06 µs/cm) and P III (45.30 ± 0.06 µs/cm). Total organic carbon (TOC) results showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences in the subplots; P III (1.62 ± 0.05%) followed by P II (1.35 ± 0.05%) and the least was P I (0.09 ± 0.03%). Total available phosphorus present in the three subplots also differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05), P II had the highest total available phosphorus (0.013 ± 0.02 mg/kg) followed by P I (0.009 ± 0.01 mg/kg) and P III (0.008 ± 0.02 mg/kg) was the least, whereas the total nitrogen showed no significant (P ≥ 0.05) differences among the three subplots, P III (0.12 ± 0.06 mg/kg), P II (0.12 ± 0.06 mg/kg) and P I (0.10 ± 0.04 mg/kg) was the least. Generally, the results of the soil physio-chemical properties have showed that subplot I was less fertile compared to the two other subplots II and III. P I; Alcaligenes sp., Micrococcus sp., Acinetobacter sp., P II had the following bacterial; Pseudomonas sp., Acinetobacer sp. and Alcaligenes sp. and P III had Bacillus sp., Aeromonas sp. However, the fungal population also differed significantly from each subplots, P I; Aspergillus flavus, Microsporum canis, Aspergillus terreus, Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., and Acremonium sp. In P II; Malironchea sp, Aspergillus terreus, Trichophyton terrestie, Gliocladium sp., Aspergillus nidulans and Phaeoacremonium parasiticum. P III; Malbranchea sp., Aspergillus nidulans, Trichophyton tonsurans, Fusarium sp. and Penicullium sp.

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