African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Remediation of Diesel Oil Polluted Soil with Poultry Manure: Impact on Germination and Growth of Forest Tree Species

1Ekpo F. E. and 2Nya E. J.

1Department of Biological Sciences, Akwa Ibom State University, P.M.B. 1167, Uyo,  Nigeria.
2Departtment of Genetics and Biotechnology, Akwa Ibom State University, P.M.B. 1167, Uyo, Nigeria

Accepted 14 August, 2024

The effect of organic manure amendment on diesel oil polluted soil on germination percentage, plant height (cm), root length (cm), leaf length (cm), leaf width (cm), leaf area (cm2), moisture content and leaf numbers of some forest tree species (Delonix regia, Bauhinia sp and Cassia siamea) were investigated. Soil samples were polluted with diesel oil (1000ml) and amended separately with different quantity of poultry manure (0g, 100g, 200g, 300g, and 400g). Germination percentage was analyzed after three weeks of planting and growth parameters were recorded at the end of 6 months. Results revealed that diesel oil pollution significantly affected the soil physical and chemical properties and also impaired germination and growth performance of forest tree species. Poultry manure amendments were able to remedy the effect of the diesel oil pollution and enhance the germination and growth performance of the tree species. The remediation effect depend on the quantity of poultry manure applied and the highest growth parameters were recorded in 400g of poultry waste amended with diesel oil polluted soil. This study has shown that soil contaminated by diesel oil may have adverse effect on germination and growth performance of forest tree species, but this can be remedied by addition of organic nutrients especially poultry waste which act as a bioremediation and also organic manure that enhance soil fertility. It was recommended that poultry manure be employed in the amendment of diesel oil polluted soils.

Keywords: Diesel oil, Forest tree species, Poultry manure amendments, Bioremediation.
 

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-009, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of Heavy Metal Chemical Forms in Sediments Surrounding Ashaka Cement Factory, Gombe State, Nigeria

Maina¹* H. M, Egila² J. N and Shagal¹ M. H.

¹Department of Chemistry, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State.
²Department of Chemistry, University of Jos.

Accepted 14 November, 2024

Abstract

A speciation study has been carried out to determine the distribution of heavy metals in sediments in the vicinity of Ashaka cement factory. Samples from eight sediment locations in the vicinity of the factory were screened, for the heavy metals Pb, Mn, Cu and Zn, by fractionation followed by analyses of fractions using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Metal concentration within the the individual metal fractions of the sequential extractions were obtained as (Exchange, Carbonate, Fe/Mn, Organic and Residual) fractions. In all the locations, carbonate fractions were high because of high concentration of CaCO3 within the vicinity of the factory. In the sequential extraction scheme used in the present study, it is reasonable to envisage the mobility and bioavailability decreasing in the extraction procedure which is; Exchange> Carbonate>Fe/Mn>Organic. The metals Pb, Zn and Mn are predominantly in the Fe/Mn fractions and occur in this order in every sediment. Overall results of the present study suggest that the mobility and bioavailability of the four metals decline in the following order: Mn> Pb= Zn > Cu. All the levels of the elements in the various sediments however do not cause threat to plants because their concentrations were generally low.

Keywords: Sediments, cement, concentrations, sequential, bioavailability, heavy metals.

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 11 (10), pp. 001-011, October, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prioritizing Ecological Functions Over Biodiversity Richness in Conservation Strategies

Vagner Santiago do Vale*, Ivan Schiavini, Ana Paula de Oliveira and André Eduardo Gusson

Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Federal University of Uberlandia (Campus Umuarama), CEP: 38 400-902, Uberlândia - MG, Brazil.

Accepted 7 July, 2024

In this work, we utilize the assessment of functional groups (FG) and functional diversity (FD) to evaluate and compare the ecological functions of two types of dry forest of South Eastern Brazil. Hence, we hypothesized that forests with different species richness could have similar FD and FG, but distinct ecological functions. The floristic composition from two physiognomies (deciduous and semideciduous forests) of six tree communities was carried out in the state of Minas Gerais, South-Eastern Brazil. The inventory was pooled together considering the traits of species such as: shade tolerance, deciduousness and desiccation tolerance of seeds; one structural feature: position on vertical strata; and two animal-plant interactions: dispersal syndrome and pollination syndrome. We chose two multivariate analyses to infer to the functional groups and used the one-way ANOVA to test differences between the abundance of the groups in the two physiognomies. The difference in FD between the two physiognomies was tested using the Shannon diversity index and the Hutcheson t-test. Both physiognomies had the same FG and FD. The most abundant group in the semi-deciduous forest was G1, which occupied lower communities (shade tolerant and perennial), whereas G4 for deciduous forest was anemochoric and autochoric of superior community strata that is light demanding. The functional diversity between the two physiognomies showed that semi-deciduous contains more species than the deciduous ones (75% more species) and are more diverse with the Shannon index of 3.3. Hence, the number of species alone had little importance when we analysed functions in ecosystems. The more abundant groups in each forest had completely different traits and were complementary in their functions to the ecosystem. In this case, a species-rich and less- species-rich system provided different key functions to the ecosystem despite their differences in species richness, diversity or physiognomic type. The use of species-rich and less- species- rich areas would present different key groups, and as such, this may be the best alternative to choose priority areas for conservation.

Key words: Complementarity, deciduous forest, dry forest, functional diversity, functional groups, semi-deciduous forest.
 

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 11 (10), pp. 001-009, October, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluating the Role of Miombo Woodlands in Carbon Storage within Tanzania’s Southern Highlands

P. K. T. Munishi*, S. Mringi, D. D. Shirima and S. K. Linda

Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3010, Morogoro, Tanzania.

Accepted 18 April, 2024

Abstract

Inventory and monitoring of existing carbon pools in ecosystems is important for establishment of baselines for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) as well as understanding the global carbon budget. We used tree dimensions to quantify the carbon pools of two sites in Miombo woodlands of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Mean above ground carbon density of the Miombo ecosystem was 19.2t ha-1. Of the total carbon, 40 and 60% was contributed by stems and branches respectively. Different species contributed differently to carbon stocks in these ecosystems with Brachystegia spiciformis and Julbernardia globiflora contributing the most. The estimated carbon stocks in this ecosystem is within the range observed in dry forests elsewhere though they are in their early stages of regeneration after extensive exploitation pressure. Under proper management there is a tremendous capacity for carbon storage in these Miombo woodlands to mitigate carbon emissions. Since Miombo species tend to invest much in roots an assessment of below ground carbon in roots can add to the carbon storage potential of these ecosystems. Evaluation of the root and soil carbon in these ecosystems is important in determining the full potential of these ecosystems to act as carbon sink.

Key words: Miombo woodlands, biomass, carbon, reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, emission mitigation, climate change.
 

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 11 (9), pp. 001-005, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Study of Zooplankton Composition in the Tungabhadra River Near Harihar, Karnataka and Assessment of Water Quality through Saprobiological Indicators

B. Suresh¹*, S. Manjappa¹ and E. T. Puttaiah²

¹Chemistry and Environmental Science and Technology Study Centre, Bapuji Institute of Engineering and Technology, Davangere-577004. Karnataka, India.
²Department of PG Studies and Research in Environmental Science, Kuvempu University, Shankarghatta-577 451, Karnataka, India.

Accepted 30 October, 2020

Abstract

The plankton constitutes the basic food source of any aquatic ecosystems, which supports fish and other aquatic animals. Zooplanktons are microscopic animals that eat other plankton. The zooplankton community analysis and saprobiological characteristics of the Tungabhadra River using diversity index during December 2004 to November 2005. The present investigation can enrich knowledge on bio-indicators in understanding the point and non point sources of pollution and also its stress on the aquatic life. The study indicates lower diversity values in the study area. Nearly sixty four different zooplankton species were recorded in the lotic ecosystem. Zooplankton population composed of four species of protozoans, sixteen species of rotifers, fourteen species of crustaceans and three groups meroplankton organisms mainly nymph/larval forms. It is found that among zooplankton community rotifers (43.24%) were dominated group followed by crustaceans (37.84%) protozoan (10.81%) and meroplankton (8.11%). By saprobiological analysis of zooplankton, it has been concluded that the greatest number of indicator organisms belongs to rotifers and crustaceans community. In the present study variations were noticed in the distribution of zooplankton at different selected stations. The zooplankton population dynamics is found to have an influence by sand mining and other human activities.

Key words: Zooplankton, diversity index, richness, dominance, Tungabhadra river.
 

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 11 (9), pp. 001-007, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of the Molecular Diversity of Planctomycete-like Bacteria in the Context of Inosine Fermentation and Wastewater Treatment Processes

Hao Zhang, Ying Xu, Yifeng Ding, Qingxiang Yang*, Siwei Ren, Xueling Li, Xuanyu Chen, Yuanyuan Xu and Hongxin Hao

College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.

Accepted 11 September, 2020

Abstract

In this study, the diversity of planctomycete-like bacteria in an inosine fermentation and a municipal wastewater treatment plants was investigated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments using planctomycete-specific forward primer and a bacteria universal reverse primer. The bacterial community structures in the two wastewater treatment systems were obviously different due to the different treatment processes and different wastewater characteristics. The highest similarity of the microbial community structure happened in the two samples from the acidification and the anaerobic tank in inosine fermentation plant reaching 67%. While the two samples from the anaerobic and the aerobic tank of municipal wastewater treatment plant reached 66%. Ten sequences were recovered from the DGGE gel and were assigned to Clostridia, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidete and Candidate division based on the phylogenetic analysis. The two sequences grouped into Candidate division had more than 92% similarities with the Planctomycete-like bacterial clones. However, no anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) activities were detected in the samples of these two wastewater treatment plants.

Key words: Planctomycete-like bacteria, wastewater treatment, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).