Effect of 2,4-dichloropenoxyacetic acid and glyphosate on soil bacterial population in Maurida, Kebbi State.

The study was conducted to evaluatethe effect of 2,4-D and glyphosate on soil bacterial population from ricegrowing fields in Maurida, Kebbi State. A total of nine composite samples weretaken from control plots and herbicide treated plots from the depth of 0 to30cm. The treatments lasted in the soil depending on the half-lives. 2,4-Dlasted in the soil for a period of 10 days (half-life), and glyphosate lastedfor a period of 47 days (half-life). The treatments were applied at a companyrecommended rate of 3 lha-1 active ingredient using Xenux Knapsacksprayer in a Complete Randomized Block Design replicated three times. Treatingsoils with herbicides had s1gnificanl effect on soil bacterial population.Untreated soils had the highest bacterial population of 39x106 cfug-1 with a mean population of I3x106 cfug-1. 2,4-D treated soils had total bacterialpopulation of 21 x106 cfug-1 with a mean population of 7x10 cfug-1. Glyphosate treated soils had the least bacterialpopulation with total of 12x 106 cfug-1 and a mean population of 4x106 cfug-1. The results showed significant differencestatistically at (P<0.05). Staphylococcus spp had the same populationin untreated soils and 2,4-D treated soils, which is higher than in glyphosatetreated soils. Untreated soils had the highest population of Bacillusspp than 2,4-D and glyphosate treated soils. Both 2,4-D and glyphosatetreated soils had no Micrococcus spp.