Soil Textural Inactivation of Residual Faecal Indicator Organisms in Bio Slurry Used for Carrot Production

Abstract

A screen house pot study using bio-slurry at the rate of 7.8 t N / ha was conducted at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute (MAURIK) Kabanyolo, Uganda. This was monitored using fecal indicator organisms (coliforms, Escherichia coli and Enterococci) in loamy sand, sandy loam and sandy clay loam texture obtained at the study site within 5litres pots under a Complete Randomized Design under a screenhouse. The different textures significantly (p<0.05) reduced the fecal indicator organisms. Conditions within the loamy sand texture reduced the pathogenic microorganisms within 90 days due to its high sand content. In this soil texture, E. coli and enterococci were reduced to undetectable levels within 90 days unlike the coliforms. Fecal, Bio slurry, coliforms, Escherichia. coli, Enterococci