Evaluation of the Effects of Okigwe Cattle Market Wastes on the Surrounding Agricultural Soil Parameters

Soil enzyme activities and bioloads of various organisms as influenced by Cattle Market activities were evaluated in Okigwe, Imo State. All the bacterial groups estimated have their highest values in the soil in which the slaughter house wastes were disposed while the control was the least. Lipolytic bacterial counts ranged from 1.7 x 103 – 2.1 x 104 cfu/g; proteolytic bacteria 2.1 x 103 – 1.7 x 105 cfu/g and total coliforms were 2.3 x 104 – 2.7 x 105 cfu/g. The total heterotrophic bacterial count ranged from 3.7 x 106 to 3.7 x 108 and nitrifying bacteria 2.1 – 104 – 3.7 x 105cfu/g. The soil pH changed towards slight alkalinity (6,4-7.6) while the change in temperature was not significant (28.2 – 30.4oC). The total organic carbon, nitrate and phosphate were in the order of control slaughter house waste soil > Control while lipase and urease had slaughter house waste soil > Cattle Market soil > Control. Cellulase activity was also higher in cattle market soil than slaughter house waste and control. The activities caused increase in both bacterial loads and enzyme activities. Keywords: Physiochemical parameters, Soil enzymes, Cattle waste, BacteriaBio-Research Vol. 6 (2) 2008: pp. 367-37