BIOCONVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL WASTES (POTATOE PEELS) INTO SOIL ADDITIVES

The need for cheap and affordable alternate sources of plant nutrient are meant to boost nutrient level of degraded arable farmlands has been a major concern for soil scientists, agronomists, and local farmers. The present study aimed at analyzing the effect of bio-converted agricultural wastes (potato peel) on soil microbiota and plant performance using a standard microbiological methods. The results obtained showed that a high bacterial count was recorded by the soil amended with bioconverted agricultural waste with 4.0× 105 cfu/g, as the highest and 5.0×104Cfu/g as the lowest. The anaerobic incubation results for bacterial count ranges between 8.0×104 cfu/g to 6.0×104 cfu/g. The results for fungal count ranges between 1.0×105 cfu/g for the bio-converted soil sample while the normal soil sample had 8.0×104 cfu/g respectively. Total of four bacterial genera were isolated they were Listeria sp., Clostridium sp., Bacillus sp. and Corynebacterium sp. Also a total of four fungal genera were as well isolated which include Penicilliu sp., Aspergillus sp., Candida sp. and Rhizopus sp. the most occurring bacterium was Clostridium sp. with 72.9% while the least occurring bacterium was Listeria sp with 3.4%. The most prevalent fungus was Penicillium sp. with 44.4% while Candida sp. was 11.1% as the least respectively. The results for the total nitrogen and carbon content of the two soil samples were presented as follows: The soil amended with bio-converted agricultural waste had an abundant of total carbon with 18.300 + 0.003% while the control soil sample recorded 9.050+0.104 %. For total nitrogen, the bioconverted amended soil sample had 0.200 + 0.01% while the control soil 0.045 + 0.022 % respectively. The plant growth performance were also examined and results obtained revealed that plant on the soil amended with bioconverted agricultural waste had a rapid germinating growth ratio. This was ascertain by measuring the plant stem length, numbers of leaves, length of leaves on daily (no. of 5 days basis) basis for the interval of 21 days respectively. Extensive use of agrochemicals in agricultural practices has been found to cause environmental disturbances and public health hazards affecting food security and sustainability in agriculture prior to this study, bio-conversion of agricultural waste to fertilizer have been found to offer an alternative solution for such agrochemical and show yield increase of up to about 10-40% by increasing protein content, essential amino-acid, vitamins and by nitrogen fixation. Potato peel should be used for the production of biofertilizers which contains large amounts of proteins and starch which after degradation by soil micro-organisms produce fertilizers with high nitrogen content.