Physicochemical and Enzymatic Activity During Vermicomposting of Chicken Feather Waste
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56532/mjsat.v6iS1.783Keywords:
Vermicompost, Physico-chemical Properties, Microbial Enzyme Activities, Sustainable Agriculture, Chicken Feather WasteAbstract
The poultry industry produces a large quantity of chicken feather waste, which can cause serious environmental problems due to its high keratin content. If this chicken feather waste is not managed properly, it will lead to environmental pollution and excessive accumulation in landfills. This study investigated vermicomposting as a sustainable approach to convert chicken feather waste into organic compost. The study also aims to examine the changes in the physicochemical properties and microbial enzymes that occur during the process. The experiment used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with eight treatments (T1-T8) and three replications. The treatments were as follows: T1, chicken feather vermicompost (bacteria only); T2, chicken feather vermicompost (earthworm only); T3, chicken feather vermicompost; and T4, compost. Treatments T5–T8 used the same substrates as T1–T4 but at different ratios and without chicken dung. Samples were collected on Days 15, 30, 45, and 60. In the lab, physicochemical properties such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), organic matter, and compost texture were measured. Enzyme activities, including dehydrogenase, urease, invertase, keratinase, and oxidase, were analysed using spectrophotometric methods to evaluate microbial roles in decomposition. The findings showed that Treatment T3, which combined earthworms and chicken manure, gave the best results by Day 60, where nitrogen was 1.35%, phosphorus 0.35%, and potassium 0.79%. Enzyme activity peaked around Days 30 to 45, with keratinase and oxidase playing key roles in breaking down the tough feather material. These results highlight the contribution of microbial enzymes to accelerated waste decomposition and nutrient release, which are indicative of compost maturity and successful laboratory analysis. Overall, the study shows that vermicomposting is an effective, low-cost, and eco-friendly solution for managing chicken feather waste while producing nutrient-rich compost that supports sustainable agriculture.
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