Effect of Logging Activities on Soil Microorganisms in Selected Forest Reserve of Ondo State

The study was carried out to assess the influence of logging on microbial population and soil properties in Akure forest reserve. The microbes were isolated and counted in agar plated composite soil samples collected from unlogged forest and two differently logged habitats in Akure forest reserve. The soil pH and soil structure of each selected habitat were also examined. The results show that the soil samples contain 18 species of bacteria and 13 species of fungi. However, 11 species of bacteria were found in the unlogged forest, 14 for lightly logged and 8 for heavily logged. Likewise 8, 9, 6 species of fungi were observed from unlogged, lightly logged and heavily logged forests respectively. Bacteria count was significantly higher (p≤0.05) in unlogged than other studied habitat. Unlogged forest had pH value of 5.85±0.17, lightly logged had 6.56±0.19 and heavily logged habitat had 6.40±0.15. The results of percentage sand composition shows that unlogged, lightly logged and heavily logged habitats had the value of 78.24±1.00, 76.99±1.79 and 77.24±1.00 respectively. The results further shows that the pH in unlogged is moderately acidic (5.850.17), while lightly logged forest and heavily logged forests were slightly acidic (6.560.19 and 6.400.15). The regression equation shows that a relationship exists between percentage sand content and bacteria, soil pH and fungi. But there is no relationship between the soil pH and bacteria and percentage sand content and fungi since their R2 is very low. The implication of their relationship is discussed.