Liquid feather protein hydrolysate as a potential fertilizer to increase growth and yield of patchouli (Pogostemon cablin Benth) and mung bean (Vigna radiata)

Abstract

Protein hydrolysates (PHs) have attracted much interest in recent years owing to the beneficial effects on plant growth. Feather, one of the most abundant wastes generated from the poultry industry, is rich in proteins and amino acids. It can be utilized to generate value-added bioproducts such as liquid feather protein hydrolysate (FPH). This research aims to evaluate the effect of FPH as fertilizer on plant growth. Hydrothermal treatment (HTT) at a temperature of 160–180 °C and a holding time of 30 min was employed to convert feathers into a liquid feather-derived protein hydrolysate (FPH) containing nitrogen and amino acids. To evaluate the effect of FPH produced from the HTT process on plant growth, FPH (0.5–5 mL/L) and its combination with 50% recommended dose of chemical fertilizers were applied to patchouli and mung bean plants. Results showed that the combination of FPH and 50% dose chemical fertilizer on patchouli yielded a statistically significant increase in leaf area, dry weight, and chlorophyll content in comparison to the control, suggesting that the application of FPH along with the inorganic fertilizer can increase fertilizer use efficiency. Combined treatment of inorganic fertilizer and FPH on mung bean also showed a relatively higher yield per plant compared with control. Hydrothermal treatment (HTT) can be a useful method for nutrient recovery from animal residuals such as feather. The application of FPH obtained through HTT could improve crop productivity and reduce chemical fertilizer consumption.

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