ASSESSMENT OF BIODEGRADATION POTENTIAL OF PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS ON SOME SELECTED AGRO – WASTES IN KEFFI, NIGERIA

The agricultural industry is challenged with large tones of lignocellulosic wastes disposal which distort the aesthetical beauty of our environment. This study aimed at assessment of biodegradation potential of Pleurotus ostreatus (P. ostreatus) on some selected agro-wastes in Keffi, Nigeria. The samples (cassava peels (CP), banana leaves (BL), saw dust (SD), yam peels (YP) and groundnut shells (GS) were inoculated with equal proportions of Pleurotus ostreatus for a period of four weeks. The proximate composition, lignocellulosic content and the carbon-nitrogen ratio and pH of the substrateswere determined and compared. Significantly (P < 0.05) was an improvement of protein and crude fibre above the undegraded samples, and protein enhancement was highest in banana leaves (13.29%) and lest in saw dust (2.49%), crude fibre enhancement was highest in banana leaves (32.45%) and lest in yam peels (9.45%). The fungus also delignified the “wastes” with significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose contents. Lignin for instance reduced by 50.00% in CP, 39.49% in BL, 25.58% in SD, 39.12% in YP and 28.19% in GS; Cellulose reduced by 21.32% in CP, 10.57% in BL, 10.93% in SD, 26.44% in YP and 15.88 in GS; Hemicellulose reduced by 21.04% in CP, 18.06% in BL, 15.29% in SD, 26.16% in YP and 26.32% in GS while Fibre reduced by 27.92% in CP, 27.13% in BL, 21.75% in SD, 28.44% in YP and 21.23% in GS.