Chicken feather waste-derived protein hydrolysate as a potential biostimulant for cultivation of mung beans

Abstract

Feathers, a waste product of poultry industries have highly recalcitrant structure and are a rich source of organic nitrogen. The use of keratinolytic microbes for bioconversion of feather waste to a value added hydrolysate is gaining the interest of researchers. Bacillus aerius NSMk2 has been reported as a potential keratinolytic strain that converts chicken feather waste into a hydrolysate rich in proteins, small peptides and amino acids. In the present study, biostimulating potential of chicken feather waste-derived protein hydrolysate (PH) generated by biocatalytic action of Bacillus aerius NSMk2 has been evaluated for the growth of mung beans (Vigna radiata), under potted conditions. Soil treated with PH, unhydrolyzed feathers (UF) or diammonium phosphate (DAP) was transferred to different pots, and seeds of mung beans were transplanted. PH treated groups showed superior germination frequency and early growth of pods. The highest number of pods with highest weight of seeds was observed in test groups as compared to control. Higher weight of roots was observed in plants treated with PH, and content of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA) and total protein was found to be high. The content of phosphate, potassium and carbon:nitrogen ratio (C:N) was substantially high in soil after application of hydrolysate. Appreciable count of free living nitrogen fixers and phosphate solubilizers was also observed in PH treated groups. The present study shows improved plant performance, yield and soil fertility after application of Bacillus aerius NSMk2 derived protein hydrolysate, and therefore indicates its application as a potential biostimulant in agroindustry.