Efficacy of Keratinolytic Bacteria (Bacillus pumilus) for decomposing non-sparingly degradable poultry feathers from waste to wealth
From Firenze University Press Journal: Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development (JAEID)
Om Prakash Aishwath, Indian council of Agricultural Research — National Research Centre on Seed Spices
Chetan Kumar Jangir, Indian council of Agricultural Research — National Research Centre on Seed Spices
Neetu Manglani, Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University
Over 847 and 135.7 thousand metric tonnes of coriander seeds were produced annually in India and Rajasthan in 2022–2023, respectively (https://dasd.gov.in). In coriander straw, the seed yield was around 1.5 times more. Therefore, coriander straw cannot be used as animal feed. As a result, underutilised coriander straw that is composted is an excellent option for producing wealth resources. In contrast, wheat straw is fed to animals (Mhaskey et al. 2021). In the current rabi (winter) season of the 2022–23 crop year, wheat has been planted on 54,000 hectares, up 59% from 34,000 hectares at the same time previous year (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com). The necessity to develop a more sustainable and secure food supply chain is becoming more and more critical in today’s society in order to reduce straw waste. In this context, composting is a natural and environmentally responsible procedure whereby organic waste is converted via biological processes into organic fertiliser and soil conditioners(Gautam et al. 2010; Alexander, 1999;Zahir et al. 2014). Poultry is one of the fastest growing segments of the agricultural sector in India with around 8% growth rate per annum (Chatterjee and Rajkumar 2015). Poultry farming in Rajasthan has witnessed steady growth, driven by rising consumer demand for poultry products. However, this expansion has brought attention to the environmental challenges associated with poultry feather waste. Globally, 8.5 billion tons of feathers are generated annually, with approximately 350 million tons generated in India alone. The large number of feather waste causes environmental problems and contaminates the air, water, and soil. The research on the efficacy of keratinolytic bacteria, in decomposing poultry feathers represents a pioneering effort with significant potential impact on waste management and resource utilization. Poultry feather production has emerged as a concern due to its non-degradability and potential to cause environmental pollution. The accumulation of poultry feathers, which are rich in keratin, poses challengesin terms of disposal and management. Feather waste has the potential to release pollutants into soil and water bodies, leading to soil contamination and disrupting local ecosystems. Our research focuses on addressing this critical issue by exploring the efficacy of keratinolytic bacteria, particularly Bacillus pumilus, in decomposing poultry feathers, thereby offering a sustainable solution to mitigate the environmental impact of poultry feather waste in Rajasthan and India. To produce an end product with the best quality for success after field application, the composting processes must be appropriately handled and the gradual changes with time of the physical-chemical features of composts must be properly controlled(Ballardo et al. 2020;Hashim et al. 2022). Due to its impact on the activity and variety of microorganisms, compost temperature is a crucial component in the efficiency of composting (Ajmal et al. 2012; Sokač et al. 2022; Sayara et al. 2020).The release of byproducts into the environment is linked to the intense growth of human economic activity, including agriculture, animal production, and the leather processing industries(Bazrafshan et al. 2016; Tesfayeet al. 2017). Even while the production of other animal products produces less waste animal tissues from the poultry sector, managing the waste of hardly biodegradable keratin, particularly feathers, presents considerable challenges (Krishnaiah et al. 2020; Farhad et al. 2021).Particularly,the use of microorganisms that secrete the keratinase enzyme for the removal and use of waste keratin has showed great promise (Duan et al. 2020).Rajput and Gupta (2013) analysed the previous study on the thermostable keratinase from Bacillus pumilusKS12.In this study, we looked into the degrading potential of straw made of wheat and coriander that had bristles shaped like those found on chickens. Then, we looked into Bacillus pumilusNM03’s microbial activities and capacity to make clean compost products by composting.The escalating accumulation of poultry feather waste presents a pressing environmental and economic challenge, necessitating innovative solutions for its management and valorization. Traditional methods for disposing of poultry feathers often prove inadequate, leading to environmental pollution and resource wastage. In this context, the utilization of keratinolytic bacteria, such as Bacillus pumilus, emerges as a promising strategy for converting poultry feathers into valuable resources. The necessity of this research lies in addressing the urgent need for economical and environmentally responsible approaches to manage poultry feather waste. By harnessing the keratinolytic properties of Bacillus pumilus, this study aims to explore novel avenues for transforming poultry feather waste into wealth, thereby mitigating environmental pollution and promoting sustainable resource utilization.Overall, this study endeavors to bridge the gap between waste management and resource utilization by introducing a novel and innovative approach for converting poultry feather waste into valuable assets. Through its exploration of the efficacy of keratinolytic bacteria, this research aims to contribute to the development of sustainable solutions for waste management and resource recovery in the poultry industry.The experiment was designed in a randomized block design with three replications, encompassing various temperature combinations involving Bacillus pumilusNM03. This comprehensive approach, comprising eight distinct treatments with different straw types, provides novel insights aimed at optimizing commercial composting practices. The present study investigates the microbiological degradation process of keratin by bacteria in wheat and coriander straw, supplemented with poultry feathers, under varying temperature conditions. The primary objective is to assess the abundance of keratin-degrading bacteria in response to compost ingredients, while also establishing bio-resources and cost-effective methods for keratin recycling. Specifically, the research aims to evaluate the efficacy of Bacillus pumilus NM03 in decomposing feather waste when applied alone or in conjunction with agricultural waste, and to analyze the nutritional quality of the resulting compost.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/jaeid-15321
Read Full Text: https://www.jaeid.it/index.php/jaeid/article/view/15321
