Aim: Organic wastes were composted and the effect of temperature changes on the bacterial and fungal succession patterns studied. Study Design: The wastes which included cow dung (CD), pig waste (PW), poultry litter (PL) and source-separated municipal solid waste (MSW) and their combinations: PL+MSW, PW+MSW and CD+MSW were allowed to decompose for 70 days in a greenhouse. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out between September 2017 and January 2018, in the greenhouse of the Agricultural Research Farm of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. Methodology: The wastes were allowed to decompose for 70 days in a greenhouse using the modified windrow method of composting. Standard microbiological methods were used to monitor temperature changes in compost piles as well as changes in bacterial and fungal populations. Results: Results revealed that changes in temperature affected microbial composition in the compost piles. The highest temperature recorded was 60oC for cow dung (CD) compost pile while at maturity the temperature in all the compost piles ranged between 27°C to 30°C. Different bacterial and fungal populations were isolated during the thermophilic and mesophilc phases of composting. Bacteria isolates included species of Staphylococcus, Proteus, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Alcaligenes, Serratia, Lactobacillus and Pseudomonas. Others included Enterobacter, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Corynebacterium and Micrococcus spp. Fungal species isolated included Candida, Saccharomyces, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, Mucor and Fusarium. Conclusion: The presence of some plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria at the end of composting qualifies organic waste composts as effective nutrient sources for crop production and can be considered as potential alternatives to chemical fertilizers.

Aim: This study identified and enumerated microorganisms associated with the composting of some organic wastes using the plate count method Study Design: The wastes were allowed to decompose for 70 days in greenhouse using the modified windrow method of composting. Standard methods were employed to monitor temperature changes in compost piles as well as changes in bacterial and fungal populations. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at in the Agricultural Research Centre of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. Methodology: The organic wastes  namely Poultry Litter (PL), Pig waste (PW), Cow dung (CD) and Source-Separated Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) were composted/co-composted using the windrow method as modified .Sixty kilograms (60) each of PW, PL, CD and MSW were introduced respectively into 100-litre(L) buckets that had previously been perforated at several points. In the co-composted piles, 30 kg of both samples were introduced into the same 100 L bucket that had previously been perforated and then mixed thoroughly. The organic wastes were allowed to decompose at room temperature at a corner of the greenhouse. and initial microbial populations as well as subsequent populations  in the compost bins were studied using standard microbiological methods Results: Microbial populations increased concurrently with temperature during the first 3 – 4 weeks of composting except, however, for faecal coliforms and Salmonella. The highest temperature recorded was 60°C for cow dung (CD) compost pile though at maturity the temperature in all compost piles ranged between 27°C to 30°C. The bacterial colony forming units were higher than fungal colony forming units throughout the composting period for both mesopholic and themophilic microorganisms. The population of mesophilic organisms increased in the first 14 – 15 days; for cow dung, the initial total heterotrophic bacteria count (THBC) and total  coliform count (TCC) were 2.4 x107 cfu/g and 5.0 x105 cfu/g respectively and  increased to 2.5x108 cfu/g  and 1.7x107 cfu/g  for THBC and TCC, respectively, after the 14th day. Thermophilic bacteria dominated all the composting systems after the 21st day and lasted to the 35th day except for cow dung compost where thermophilic temperatures were still observed on the 45th day with a THBC of 6.3x106 cfu/g on the 49th day. Faecal coliforms and Salmonella were completely eliminated in all the compost systems after the 28th day with temperature values between 47°C – 60°C. Conclusion: Organic wastes when managed properly through the application of knowledge of composting can be transformed into beneficial materials for human and agricultural use.

Soil contamination by Lead and Cadmium is a prevalent ecological problem that requires attention because these two metals are toxic and could accumulate and translocate in soil over time, which poses a risk of entering the food chain and affecting the living organisms in the food web. The objective of this study is to evaluate the levels of Pb and Cd in soil from selected sampling locations of the Koko Seaport in Delta State, Nigeria. Five areas near Koko Seaport were investigated for the transport of these heavy metals in the soil. Statistical analysis using ANOVA and chart models was used to determine the concentration of these metals. Cadmium and lead levels that were significant were found in the studied areas. The data did not show any differences between the two metals due to the significance of the *p>0.05 value. The variations showed a surge in comparisons of the amounts of cadmium in stations 2 and 3, respectively, as well as significant values for cadmium compared to lead. The outcome was directly influenced by the type and quantity of hazardous wastes present in the research area. The recommended remedial actions for these metals include soil cleansing, immobilization, and the choice of plants with hyper bio accumulation for phytoremediation methods that allow the use of genetic engineering.

This study investigated the air quality of Aluu and Igwuruta communities both in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, using carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), suspended particulate matter (SPM), Methare (CH4), ammonia (NH3) Ozone (03) and Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs) as indices. Sampling was done at eighteen (18) locations within Aluu and Igwuruta at graded distances from the two (2) flare points located within the study area. Ambient air temperature, relative humility and windspeed were also measured for the location. Results showed the following levels for Aluu: CO; 934.2 ± 6.5 μg/m3, NO2; 1451.4 ± 14.28 μg/m3, SO2; 243.3 ± 9.085 μg/m3, NH3; 2167.3 ± 8.916 μg/m3, CH4; 34734.5 ± 9.55 μg/m3, SPM; 23.55 ± 6.05 μg/m3, O3; 14.795 ± 6.33 μg/m3 and VOC; 4.04 ± 1.842 μg/m3 while for Igwuruta, results are given as: CO; 460 ± 6.81 μg/m3, SPM; 95.7 ± 3.588 μg/m3, NO2; 1300.75 ± 4.681 μg/m3, SO2; 1191.72 ± 13.127 μg/m3, SO2; 1191.72 ± 13.127 μg/m3, NH3; 554.05 ± 9.241 μg/m3, CH4; 15078.8 ± 10.74 μg/m3, O3; 17.464 ± 1.696 and VOC; 4.659 ± 1.059 μg/m3. The dominant pollutants were NO2, SO2, NH3 and CH4. These results raises concern on possible health risk on community dwellers while Igwuruta had higher levels than Aluu in NO2 and SO2 levels. It is therefore recommended among others, that gas to energy conversion approach is a readily available technology that can be used to curb the menance of environmental pollution due to gas flaring at the same time harnessing the commodity value of the associated gases currently being flared. Key words: criteria pollutants, reinforcement, Igwuruta, Aluu, health effects

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