Analysis of Bacterial Abundance and Species Diversity in Various Soils

Different soil types display a wide range of nutrient content, microbial abundance and diversity. Many of the microbes viable in soil have practical functions in the agricultural and medical fields while others are pathogenic. Garden topsoil, potting soil, forest soil, compost and manure were the five soil types investigated in this study for bacterial abundance, species diversity, and nutrient content. We hypothesized that manure and compost would have the most nutrients and be highest in number and diversity of bacteria. Likewise, we hypothesized that potting soil would be low in all three areas. Each soil sample was diluted, plated on Plate Count Agar and incubated at 37oC for 2 days in order to maximize the number of colonies able to grow on the media. The bacteria count was determined by plate count assay and the microbial abundance by using 16S rDNA to sequence isolated species and compare the number of genera present in each soil type. A qualitative nutrient analysis was conducted to evaluate the relative nutrient content of each soil type. It was determined that the compost was richest in nitrate, phosphorus and potassium, while the other soils were low in all three. The manure exhibited a significantly higher bacterial count than all the other samples. Potting soil, compost, garden topsoil and forest soil followed with less significant variance. Similarly, the manure represented the greatest number of genera from the 16S rDNA sequencing than the other samples.

Name thesis:degree_name

Bachelor of Science in Education

Level thesis:degree_level

bachelors

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology/Toxicology

Grantor dc:publisher

Ashland University Honors Theses

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Roth, McKenzie L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Greene, Andrew

• Microbiology
• Soil nutrients
• soil bacteria
• soil microbes
• bacterial abundance
• microbial abundance
• compost
• manure
• topsoil
• potting soil
• forest soil
• 16S rDNA

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=auhonors1355166102

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:auhonors1355166102