Bacterial Dynamics in Different Rhizosphere Soils of Selected Agricultural Land Use Types of an Ultisol in Rivers State, Nigeria

Elenwo; C.E; Chukundah; F.A; Elenwo; G.

doi:10.56201/ijaes.vol.12.no6.2026.pg123.131

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Bacterial Dynamics in Different Rhizosphere Soils of Selected Agricultural Land Use Types of an Ultisol in Rivers State, Nigeria

Elenwo, C.E, Chukundah, F.A and, Elenwo, G.

Abstract

This study investigated the bacterial dynamics in the rhizosphere of three agricultural land use types of an Ultisol of Umuahiagwu community of Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State. They are Gnetum Africanum , Ananas comosus L. Merr (Pineapple), Musa × paradisiaca (Plantain) and a 5yrs old fallow land which served as the Control. Three quadrats of 2 M × 2 M were used for soil sample collection, from each land use type a homogenous collection with respect to elevation and slope was done. However, from each quadrat, soil samples were collected by carefully uprooting healthy plants without damaging and removing bulk soil loosely surrounding the roots by shaking and placing in sterile bottles. This was done for the different agricultural land use types and the control before taken to the Laboratory for analysis. Bacteria DNA extraction was done using the ZymoBIOMICS DNA Microprep Kit (Zymo Research, USA) with the ZR Bashing Beads. 16S rRNA gene was targeted for 16S PCR amplification using conventional primers (Forward: 5’- GTGYCAGCMGCCGCGGTAA -3’; Reverse: 5’- GGACTACNVGGGTWTCTAAT -3’). Gel electrophoresis, was used to separate DNA based on length, following PCR amplification. PCR products were purified, and sequencing reactions done using the sanger sequencer. The result revealed that the DNA isolation process yielded high-quality genomic DNA from all samples ranging from 7.9 to 20.3 ng/ μl. Agarose gel electrophoresis of the PCR products revealed distinct bands at the expected sizes of ~300-500bp for bacteria positive sample. BLAST searches against reference databases identified the species isolated from each sample to be Halorhodospira halochloris, and Immundisolibacter cernigliae, among the bacteria isolated from the plantain rhizosphere, Thermaerobacter composti, and Thermaerobacter marianensis, some of the isolates identified from the pineapple rhizosphere, Microvirga roseola, and Microvirga thermotolerans, were some from the Ukazi rhizosphere and Halorhodospira halochloris, and Luteitalea pratensis from the control. The findings of this research show that, the bacteria species diversity in the rhizospheres of specific crops may contribute to functions such as nitrogen fixation, organic matter decomposition, or phosphate solubilization and the critical role of Agricultural land use in shaping soil biological and chemical properties. As Agricultural land use types continues to evolve, especially in tropical and semi-arid regions, understanding these microbial shifts can guide sustainable practices. The distinct taxa found exclusively in specific rhizospheres are promising targets for future functional studies or bioinoculant development.

References

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Bacterial Dynamics in Different Rhizosphere Soils of Selected Agricultural Land Use Types of an Ultisol in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

References

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