Soil Fungal Diversity and Distribution Across Agricultural Lands in Rivers State

This study investigated fungal populations in different farming soils within the Rukpokwu community, Rivers State, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from six locations (labeled A–F) at a depth of 0–15 cm using a hand auger, with sample F serving as a non-farming control soil. Both mycological and physicochemical analyses were conducted following standard methods. The total fungal counts ranged from 5.21 × 10³ to 2.57 × 10⁴ colony-forming units (CFU) per gram of soil. The highest fungal load was recorded in sample A, while the lowest count was observed in the control soil (sample F). Predominant fungal genera isolated included Mucor, Microsporum, Candida, Penicillium, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus, Rhodotorula, Geotrichum, Scopulariopsis, and Saccharomyces. Among these, Candida spp. was the most frequent, followed by A. niger, whereas Rhodotorula, Rhizopus, Saccharomyces, and Geotrichum species were less common. The study revealed that farming soils harbored significantly higher fungal populations compared to the non-farming control soil. While the fungal species composition was largely similar across sites, nutrient analysis showed that farm soils contained adequate nutrients conducive to both fungal and crop growth. These findings suggest that plant residues and farming activities contribute to elevated fungal populations in agricultural soils, which may influence soil health and crop productivity.