THE EFFECTS of FEATHER PROTEIN HYDROLYSATE PRODUCED by Bacillus safensis and Bacillus licheniformis on THE GROWTH of Telfaria occidentalis and Abelmoschus esculentus

Abstract

ABSTRACT Keratins are proteins present in all life forms and are difficult to degrade. This research was carried out to investigate the biofertilization effect of protein hydrolysate produced by the biodegradation of keratin waste (chicken feather waste) on the growth of Albemoschus esculentus and Telfaria occidentalis. Feather degrading bacteria were isolated from feather dump site and identified using biochemical and molecular characterization. The isolates were used to produce protein hydrolysate in a submerged fermentation process. The isolates were confirmed to be Bacillus safensis and Bacillus licheniformis. The protein hydrolysate produced from Bacillus safensis and Bacillus licheniformis had high yield weights of 25.9±19.1 g and 88.7±3.12 g respectively. The protein hydrolysate combined with bacteria suspension also gave a high yield weight of 23.9±0.00 g and 95.3± 0.010 g respectively. There was a positive result when NPK was combined with feather hydrolysate resulting in a yield of 151.6±0.0011 g and 31.3± 0.00 g for Albemoschus esculentus and Telfaria occidentalis respectively. The untreated plants had the least yield weight of 47.5± 0.14 g and 14.8±0.00 g for Albemoschus esculentus and Telfaria occidentalis respectively. The result of this experiment shows that feather hydrolysate which is eco-friendly offers a promising prospect in agriculture as a biofertilizer.