Assessment of New NKSMg Fertilizer Based on Protein Hydrolysate of Keratin in Pot Experiments

Abstract

We assessed the effectiveness use of the new NKSMg fertilizer on the germination of rapeseed (Brassica napus L. var. napus). The fertilizer was produced on the basis of protein hydrolysate from processing of poultry feathers. The whole process is based on the digestion of feather waste by acidic hydrolysis, adjusting pH of the reaction medium, and then enriched in select nutrients. The method allows the production of liquid fertilizers that can be used in soil and foliar applications. Pot experiments have shown that the use of NKSMg fertilizer based on protein hydrolysate of keratin had a significant effect on the increase of plant biomass. The contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium in plants increased by 76.2, 5.20, 37.3, and 29.6%, respectively, compared to unfertilized plants. The use of fertilizer also significantly modified the contents of manganese and zinc in tested plants. Technology of production of fertilizers based on protein hydrolysate is currently implemented by Intermag Co., Polish leader in the manufacture of fertilizers, growth stimulators, and other preparations designed for professional agriculture and horticulture.

Applications of Fungal Strains with Keratin-Degrading and Plant Growth Promoting Characteristics

“…PHs were prepared according to others reports [29,30]. The fungal isolates were grown on liquid medium with keratin substrate as a sole carbon and nitrogen source.…”

Chicken feather protein hydrolysate as a biostimulant improves the growth of wheat seedlings by affecting biochemical and physiological parameters

“…CFPH, for example, exhibited a stimulative effect on seed germination and seedling growth of ryegrass when applied to soil (Gousterova et al, 2012). Its foliar application increased the number of fingers per hand, bunch weight, and hands per bunch in banana plants (Gurav and Jadhav, 2013), and significantly increased plant biomass in rapeseed (Popko et al, 2015). Although several studies have assessed the effect of CFPH on certain physiological parameters of plants, to this point almost no information has been produced regarding its role in relation to biochemical mechanisms, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nonenzymatic antioxidant compound (e.g., glutathione and ascorbate) levels, or antioxidant enzyme (e.g., superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase) and RuBisCo (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase) activities, especially for foliar application.…”

“…Human population growth and declines in cultivable productive soil around the world have triggered a variety of efforts to improve plant cultivation yield and quality, including development of more low-cost, environmentally sustainable, and reasonable approaches (Ertani et al, 2009(Ertani et al, , 2015Popko et al, 2015). Increased crop production, however, mostly depends on the use of chemical fertilizers to reinforce the mineral nutrient requirements of plants .…”

“…Increased crop production, however, mostly depends on the use of chemical fertilizers to reinforce the mineral nutrient requirements of plants . In recent years, researchers have increasingly recommended the use of biostimulants, including protein hydrolysates (PHs), as alternative inorganic fertilizers to improve crop cultivation Popko et al, 2015); moreover, it has been suggested that biostimulants may serve as a favorable treatment in reducing the need for inorganic fertilizer and the pollution in agricultural lands . Widespread acknowledgment that increasingly intensive use of inorganic fertilizers impairs soil quality has led to a steady increase in the number of studies on the application of PHs, including small-sized peptides, free amino acids, and some nutrient elements, due to their beneficial effects on crop cultivation (Schiavon et al, 2008;.…”

Chicken Feather Protein Hydrolysate Ameliorates Cold Resistance by Upregulating Physiologic and Biochemical Responses of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.)

“…Waste recycling of poultry feathers which often causes signi cant environmental problems ensures the recovery of essential nutrients for plants and is also one of the indispensable strategies for dealing with waste. Poultry feathers are a rich source of nitrogen and sulfur and other nutritional minerals for plants (Popko et al 2015). On the other hand, the hydrolysis process is one of the most important steps in obtaining animal-derived protein hydrolysates (PH) to be used for plant growth.…”