Isolation and Characterization of Microorganisms Found in Dumpsite Soils in Federal University Oye-Ekiti (Oye-Campus), Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

The increasing volume of unmanaged solid waste poses significant environmental and public health challenges, particularly within university environments. This study investigated the isolation and characterization of microorganisms present in dumpsite soils at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (Oye Campus), Ekiti State, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from residential halls, academic areas, and a control site, followed by physicochemical and microbiological analyses. Physicochemical parameters revealed higher values in dumpsite soils compared to the control, including electrical conductivity (0.0590 ± 0.0014 µS/cm), moisture content (0.0550 ± 0.0014%), and organic matter (1.8510 ± 0.0042%) in residential areas, while the control recorded 0.0215 ± 0.0021 µS/cm, 0.0280 ± 0.0014%, and 1.5835 ± 0.0050%, respectively. Soil pH ranged from 7.90 ± 0.02 to 8.18 ± 0.01, indicating a neutral to slightly alkaline environment favorable for microbial proliferation. Microbial analysis showed high bacterial and fungal loads, with bacterial counts reaching 1.4 × 10⁷ CFU/g in academic areas and fungal counts peaking at 8.5 × 10⁶ CFU/g in residential dumpsites. Identified bacterial isolates included Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas spp., while fungal isolates comprised Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., and Rhizopus spp. These findings indicate the presence of diverse and metabolically active microbial communities adapted to waste-rich environments. The results demonstrate that dumpsite soils within the study area support abundant and diverse microorganisms, influenced by favorable physicochemical conditions. This study provides baseline data essential for environmental monitoring and highlights potential public health risks associated with improper waste disposal, while supporting the development of sustainable waste management strategies.