Optimization of Conditions for Feather Waste Biodegradation by Geophilic Trichophyton ajelloi Fungal Strains towards Further Agricultural Use

The aim of the study was to optimize culture conditions and medium composition to accelerate the biodegradation of chicken feather waste by keratinolytic soil strains of Trichophyton ajelloi, which are poorly known in this respect, as well as to propose hitherto unconsidered culture conditions for these fungi in order to obtain a biopreparation with a high fertilization value. Different pH of the medium, incubation temperatures, amounts of chicken feathers, additional carbon sources, and culture methods were tested. The process of optimizing keratin biodegradation was evaluated in terms of measuring the activity of keratinase, protease, disulfide reductase, concentration of released soluble proteins and peptides, total pool of amino acids, ammonium and sulfate ions, changes in medium pH, and feather weight loss. It was found that the studied fungal strains were capable of decomposing and mineralizing keratin from feather waste. Regarding the fertilizer value of the obtained hydrolysates, it was shown that the release of sulfate and ammonium ions was highest in a stationary culture containing 2% feathers with an initial pH of 4.5 and a temperature of 28 °C. Days 14–21 of the culture were indicated as the optimal culture time for these fungi to obtain biopreparations of high fertilizing value.