Comparative Analysis On The Biodegradation Rate Of Polythene And Plastic Buried In Fadama Soil Amended By

ABSTRACT: The biodegradation of plastic and polythene was monitored using fadama soil (FS) amended with poultry droppings, cow dung and inorganic fertilizer (NPK). Each was seeded with the polythene and plastic sample. The degradation of polythene and plastic was examined after 2, 4, 6 and 9 months of burial in FS amended with organic and inorganic fertilizers. Physicochemical characteristics of FS, poultry dropping, cow dung and NPK were examined before and after the amendment and seeding of the polythene and plastic sample. FS amended with poultry dropping had the highest count followed by FS amended with cowdung and the least is the FS as control. But after the expiration of the experiment FS amended with cowdung had the highest bacteria count followed by FS amended with poultry droppings and least was the control soil. The bacteria species isolated from FS, organic and inorganic fertilizers before amendments include: S. aureus, Micrococcus, S. pyogens, Psuedomonas, B. subtilis and B. cereus. The fungi species include: A. niger, A. fumigates, A. flavus, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, and Candida. The bacteria species isolated and characterized after nine months of seeding include: S. aureus, Micrococcus, S. pyogenes, P. aerogenosa and B. subtilis. The fungi species are: A. niger A. flavus, A. fumigates, Mucor, Penicillium and Fusarium. The percentage weight loss of polythene bags was 18.1% and plastics 6.0% after nine months.