Enhancing spinach growth with a biofertilizer derived from chicken feathers using a keratinolytic bacterial consortium
Abstract This study was conducted to develop a cost-effective and environmentally friendly biofertilizer by utilizing chicken feather waste. Two bacterial strains were employed to biotransform the abundant keratin protein in feathers. The keratinolytic bacterial strains used in this study were ident...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-03866-z |
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| author | Iqra Saleem Wajeeha Asad Tabbasum Kiran Sabahat Binte Asad Sana Khaliq Amira Ali Mohammed Al-Harethi L. O. Mallasiy Tawaf Ali Shah |
| author_facet | Iqra Saleem Wajeeha Asad Tabbasum Kiran Sabahat Binte Asad Sana Khaliq Amira Ali Mohammed Al-Harethi L. O. Mallasiy Tawaf Ali Shah |
| author_sort | Iqra Saleem |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study was conducted to develop a cost-effective and environmentally friendly biofertilizer by utilizing chicken feather waste. Two bacterial strains were employed to biotransform the abundant keratin protein in feathers. The keratinolytic bacterial strains used in this study were identified as Bacillus licheniformis MW45 and Bacillus paralicheniformis MW48. The feather hydrolysate was assessed for its effectiveness as a nitrogen fertilizer with slow-release properties. The study employed a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates, and statistical analysis, including ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test, was used to validate the differences between treatments. The test plant was spinach, and various growth parameters were observed. The growth promotion activity of the produced biofertilizer was compared with a commercially available NPK fertilizer. The results showed that the growth promotion effect of chicken feather hydrolysate was significantly higher than the control and commercially available NPK fertilizer. The feather hydrolysate displayed the highest germination percentage (48%), vigor index (1081.44), number of leaves (17), height (22.53 cm), and weight (3.493 g), compared to the chemical fertilizer’s germination percentage (31%), vigor index (714.4), number of leaves (13), height (18.5 cm), and weight (1.904 g). Statistical analysis showed that the fermented chicken feather hydrolysate can be effectively applied as a slow-releasing nitrogen fertilizer in agricultural fields. The novelty of this study lies in the use of a bacterial consortium to transform chicken feathers into high efficiency biofertilizer. This production may not only supports the national economy by increasing crop yield but also contributes to a cleaner and greener Pakistan by recycling feather waste. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-112839cd065a4eac9b305e0bf7ad3b22 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2180 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-112839cd065a4eac9b305e0bf7ad3b222025-08-20T02:17:09ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802025-04-0125111010.1186/s12866-025-03866-zEnhancing spinach growth with a biofertilizer derived from chicken feathers using a keratinolytic bacterial consortiumIqra Saleem0Wajeeha Asad1Tabbasum Kiran2Sabahat Binte Asad3Sana Khaliq4Amira Ali Mohammed Al-Harethi5L. O. Mallasiy6Tawaf Ali Shah7Department of Microbiology, University of KarachiDepartment of Microbiology, University of KarachiDepartment of Microbiology, University of KarachiBond Life Centre, University of MissouriDepartment of Microbiology, University of KarachiBiological Science Department, Faculty of Science, Sana’a UniversityMuhayil Asir, Applied College, King Khalid UniversityCollege of Agriculture Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of TechnologyAbstract This study was conducted to develop a cost-effective and environmentally friendly biofertilizer by utilizing chicken feather waste. Two bacterial strains were employed to biotransform the abundant keratin protein in feathers. The keratinolytic bacterial strains used in this study were identified as Bacillus licheniformis MW45 and Bacillus paralicheniformis MW48. The feather hydrolysate was assessed for its effectiveness as a nitrogen fertilizer with slow-release properties. The study employed a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates, and statistical analysis, including ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test, was used to validate the differences between treatments. The test plant was spinach, and various growth parameters were observed. The growth promotion activity of the produced biofertilizer was compared with a commercially available NPK fertilizer. The results showed that the growth promotion effect of chicken feather hydrolysate was significantly higher than the control and commercially available NPK fertilizer. The feather hydrolysate displayed the highest germination percentage (48%), vigor index (1081.44), number of leaves (17), height (22.53 cm), and weight (3.493 g), compared to the chemical fertilizer’s germination percentage (31%), vigor index (714.4), number of leaves (13), height (18.5 cm), and weight (1.904 g). Statistical analysis showed that the fermented chicken feather hydrolysate can be effectively applied as a slow-releasing nitrogen fertilizer in agricultural fields. The novelty of this study lies in the use of a bacterial consortium to transform chicken feathers into high efficiency biofertilizer. This production may not only supports the national economy by increasing crop yield but also contributes to a cleaner and greener Pakistan by recycling feather waste.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-03866-zKeratinaseKeratin hydrolysateFeather wasteImmobilizationCorncobBiofertilizer |
| spellingShingle | Iqra Saleem Wajeeha Asad Tabbasum Kiran Sabahat Binte Asad Sana Khaliq Amira Ali Mohammed Al-Harethi L. O. Mallasiy Tawaf Ali Shah Enhancing spinach growth with a biofertilizer derived from chicken feathers using a keratinolytic bacterial consortium BMC Microbiology Keratinase Keratin hydrolysate Feather waste Immobilization Corncob Biofertilizer |
| title | Enhancing spinach growth with a biofertilizer derived from chicken feathers using a keratinolytic bacterial consortium |
| title_full | Enhancing spinach growth with a biofertilizer derived from chicken feathers using a keratinolytic bacterial consortium |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing spinach growth with a biofertilizer derived from chicken feathers using a keratinolytic bacterial consortium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing spinach growth with a biofertilizer derived from chicken feathers using a keratinolytic bacterial consortium |
| title_short | Enhancing spinach growth with a biofertilizer derived from chicken feathers using a keratinolytic bacterial consortium |
| title_sort | enhancing spinach growth with a biofertilizer derived from chicken feathers using a keratinolytic bacterial consortium |
| topic | Keratinase Keratin hydrolysate Feather waste Immobilization Corncob Biofertilizer |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-03866-z |
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