In-Situ Biostimulatory Effect of Selected Organic Wastes on Bacterial Atrazine Biodegradation

Ahmed Faruk Umar, Fatimah Tahir, Michael Larkin, Olubukola Mojisola Oyawoye, Balarabe Lawal Musa, Mohammed Bello Yerima, Ediga Bede Agbo

Biological Sciences Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria.
Microbiology Department, Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Queens University Environmental and Genomic Research (QUESTOR) Center, Queens University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.

DOI: 10.4236/aim.2012.24076                

Abstract

The biostimulatory effect of selected organic wastes on bacterial biodegradation of atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine) in three agricultural soils in Bauchi state, Nigeria, was carried out. The soil physico-chemical characteristics were investigated to further understand the environmental conditions of the sampling sites. Enrichment technique was used to isolate the atrazine-degrading strains. Mineralization studies were carried out to determine atrazine biodegradation potentials of strains. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of total nucleic acid of strains revealed several bacterial species based on nucleotide sequence analyses. Biostimulatory effect of selected organic wastes carried out showed minimal to average extent of biodegradation. The highest mean values, in CFU/mL, increase in biomass was recorded in Pseudomonas sp for both Cow dung 16.76 (42.03%) and Chicken droppings 12.32 (38.46%). However, biostimulatory effect using consortia provided more promising results, with 41.51% and 42.08% in Cow dung and Chicken droppings, biomass increase, respectively, in studies conducted. This proves that competition, survival of inoculums, bioavailability of organic amendments and nature of chemical are important factors affecting bioremediation.

Keywords

Biostimulation; Biodegradation; Bioremediation; Mineralization; Atrazine

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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