Assessment of Cow Dung on Fungal Growth Isolated from Spent Engine Oil Contaminated Soil Obtained from Mechanic Workshop in Minna, Nigeria

Abstract

Samples of the spent engine oil contaminated soils were collected from Shanchaga. Maikunkele, Shiroro, Tunga and Bosso mechanic workshops located in Minna Local Government Area. Four samples of 0.5kg each per location were collected making a total of 2kg of soil sample per site and 10kg from the five sites. Non-oil contaminated soil samples were collected from Biological Garden of the Department of Plant Biology. Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. The fungi were isolated from the mechanic workshop soils using dilution plate method in mineral salt medium, Five treatments (25g/kg. 50g/kg. 75g/kg, 100g/kg and 125g/kg) of different weights of steam sterilized cow dung were applied to the soil in the pots measuring 1Scm x 35cm filled with one kilogram (lkg) of steam sterilized soil. Standard suspension (10.02 x 10'cfu/ml) of each of the three pure fungal isolates (R. stolonifer, A. flavus and T. harzianum) obtained among the fifteen fmgi (Aspergillhus niger, Rhizopus stolonifer, Fusarium oxvsporium, Aspergillus flavus. Penicillium nolatum, Aspergillus funmigatus, Trichoderma Penicillium griscofulvm Rhodotorula sP. harzianu Cunninghamella echinulata, Trichoderma viride, Penicillium chrysogenum, Mucor hiemalis. Mucor racemosus and Mucor plunmbeus) sereened for enhancement were added to the pots and thoroughly mixed with each of the 5ml of spent engine oil contaminated soil The contaminated soils were allowed to stand for one week before the application of the different treatments. All treatments were replicated three times and the contents of each pot were watered and tilled twice a week for aeration, All the fungi were identified based on macroscopic and microscopic features of the fruiting bodies, spores and hyphal mass. The spent oil utilizing fungal population counts (SOUFPC) were determined with the test fungi. The studies revealed that the population of the three hydrocarbon degrading T. harzianum, R. Stolonifer, and A. flavus counts in all the soils amended wilth the various weights of cow dung were higher compared to that of un-amended control pots. 1hese increases in all the amended pots were higher in CD75 counts.