Assessment of Quality, Bacterial Population and Diversity of Irrigation Water in Selected Areas of Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This research was carried out in the cropping season of 2016 to determine the quality, bacterial population and diversity of irrigation water in selected areas of Minna, Niger state. Treatment comprised of four locations where irrigation agriculture is practiced in Minna namely Bali in Chanchaga, Fadikpe, Mechanic village in Keterin Gwari and Soje-A in Kpakungu, where water samples were collected from at 3 points from the water source and mixed together to represent the location. The treatment was replicated three times and fitted to a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The physical, chemical and biological properties of the irrigation water were determined according to standard methods. Result obtained showed that bacteria population and diversity were significantly affected by location and all the physical and chemical properties of the irrigation water were significantly affected by location except Chemical oxygen demand (mg/l). Fadipke had the highest bacteria population, (2.5×108 CFU/ml), and the least diverse. Other locations were equally diverse with Soje-A having the lowest bacteria population (2.8×107 CFU/ml). Averagely, bacteria population found in the irrigation water of Minna may not be biodegrading. _B.subtilis _that has higher potential for biodegradation was unable to reduce the Biochemical oxygen demand in this research. Water from Chanchaga recorded the best quality for irrigation even though values of some of the physicochemical properties were higher than values recommended by Food and Agricultural Organisation standard. Further studies should therefore be carried out to establish the potentials of _B.subtilis _in bioremediation of Chanchaga water and investigate the biodegrading potential of _Escherichia coli_ since it correlated negatively with Total dissolved solids, Biochemical oxygen demand, Chemical oxygen demand and iron.