Physico-chemical and Culture-dependent Microbiological Characterization of Spent Pleurotus Composts from Three Different Agro-based Wastes
A. A. Ibiene
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
P. O. Okerentugba
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
F. A. Orji *
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and Department of Biotechnology, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, PMB 21023, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria
E. N. Dike
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: Physico-chemical and culture-dependent microbiological properties of spent mushroom compost (SMC) were investigated.
Study Design: The physico-chemical and microbiological properties of spent mushroom composts were determined using standard methods.
Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Biotechnology, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, oshodi, Lagos-Nigeria between September to December, 2012.
Results: The CW-SMC, SD-SMC, and BSG-SMC, had a total nitrogen content of 30.52 mg/Kg, 22.54 mg/Kg, and 14.20 mg/Kg, respectively while total phosphorus was observed as 14.10 mg/Kg, 12.45 mg/Kg, and 6.45 mg/Kg, respectively. In all the SMC’s studied, Ca had the highest concentration (5.30-6.60 meq/100 g) among other exchangeable cations. The concentrations of Pb, Vn, Fe, Cr, and Ni were within the range of 0.02 mg/kg-8.93 mg/kg but BSG-SMC had the least concentrations of heavy metals. Quantitative compost microbiological analyses showed heavy loads of total culturable hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria (1.8-11 x 104cfu/g) and fungi (4.4-8.5 x 104cfu/g) counts. Hydrocarbon utilizing microorganisms associated with the SMC’s were: Penicillium sp., Aspergillus niger, Pleurotus ostreatus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Burkholderia species.
Conclusion: SMC’s are good sources of limiting nutrients and hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms.
Keywords: Petroleum hydrocarbon, Hydrocarbon degraders, spent mushroom compost, agro-allied waste