PROFILING OF MICROORGANISM ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONVERSION OF PLANT WASTE MATERIAL INTO ORGANIC MANURE
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the microbial and physicochemical changes during composting of plant waste to produce quality organic manure. Plant materials such as leaves, peels, and husks were composted over 45 days in Bauchi, Nigeria, and sampled at different stages. Microorganisms were isolated and identified using standard microbiological and biochemical techniques. Dominant bacteria included Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Lactobacillus spp., while major fungi were Aspergillus niger, Penicillium spp., and Rhizopus stolonifer. Temperature peaked at 54°C in Week 1 and declined to 32°C by Week 5, with pH rising from 6.2 to 7.2, indicating compost maturity. Microbial counts increased during active decomposition and declined upon stabilization. These findings confirm that microbial composting effectively converts plant waste into nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and support the use of specific microbes to improve composting efficiency in Nigeria.
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