Textile industries are the second-largest polluting sector in contaminating soil and water resources. Freshwater depletion demands the recycling and reuse of industrial wastewater. This study aimed for microbial treatment of dye-contaminated water for agricultural applications. In this study, potential microbes were isolated and screened based on a maximum dye tolerance test, decolorization, and degradation studies against four reactive textile dyes (Black B, Red GDN, Black NN, and Yellow GDBR). The potential isolate was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain VITKSS1. Decolorization of the reactive dye mix at 100 ppm, 500 ppm, and 1000 ppm was observed as 100% in 7 days, 94.4% in 8 days, and 85.9% in 10 days respectively. Bio-degraded dye metabolites were analyzed using GC-MS and FTIR.  Based on the GC-MS analysis, an 87.85% reduction of Bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEPH) was observed. The surface of the degraded dye metabolites was visualized in SEM. The isolate VITKSS1 showed positive results on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) screening. The phytotoxicity study was performed to assure the safety of treated wastewater for irrigation. This study revealed that dye-contaminated water can be treated using VITKSS1 and reused efficiently.

Information on soil organic carbon stock (SOCs) and carbohydrates (R-CHO) in soils is a prerequisite to understanding the maintenance of soil health, because they promote aggregate stability, soil aeration and the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere. The study was carried out to quantified soil organic carbon stock and acid-soluble carbohydrates in soils under different land uses in the University of Port Harcourt Research Farms and related them to maintenance of soil structural indices. The land use types were: Teak (Tectona grandis), Gmelina (Gmelina arborea), Rubber (Hevea brasilensis), and continuously cultivated plots to maize and cassava (CC). Results revealed significant changes in mean weight diameter (MWD) of water stable aggregates, acid soluble carbohydrates, and soil organic carbon storage amongst the various land use types. Mean weight diameter of the topsoil was highest in Teak (0.93 mm), followed by 0.84 mm in Gmelina soils. Acid soluble carbohydrates (R-CHO) values were 20.67, 19.80, 18.67 and 3.60 g/kg^-1 for Rubber, Gmelina, Teak and (CC) soils, respectively. Cultivation of Teak, Gmelina, and Rubber, increased topsoil organic carbon stock by 102.8, 90.2, and 60.8% respectively, compared to the CC soil. The dry bulk density varied significantly (p < 0.05) in Teak at 1.28 g cm^-3 and 1.68 g cm^-3 in CC soils. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) value as slow as 4.8 cm h^-1 was obtained in CC, compared to rapid Ksat values of 25.0 and 22.6 cm h^-1 in Teak and Gmelina, respectively. Relationships showed a strong positive linear correlations between MWD and SOCs (r= 0.873, p < 0.01) and R-CHO (r= 0.856, p < 0.01). A positive correlation of SOCs with macro aggregates explained the involvement of SOC stock in the stabilization of micro aggregates for the formation of macro aggregates which promotes soil aeration and capillary pores, thereby, preventing soil degradation and compaction. Therefore, integrating these forest plants into the farming systems would help in improving the structural indices of the soil and also store significant quantity of SOC.