Waste Management 34 (2014) 747–752

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Waste Management
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/wasman

Fertilizer and sanitary quality of digestate biofertilizer

from the co-digestion of food waste and human excreta
H.I. Owamah a,⇑, S.O. Dahunsi b, U.S. Oranusi c, M.I. Alfa d
a
Civil Engineering Department, Landmark University, P.M.B. 1001, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria
b
Department of Biological Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria
c
Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
d
Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: This research was aimed at assessing the fertilizer quality and public health implications of using
Received 13 September 2013 digestate biofertilizer from the anaerobic digestion of food wastes and human excreta. Twelve (12) kg
Accepted 27 January 2014 of food wastes and 3 kg of human excreta were mixed with water in a 1:1 w/v to make 30-l slurry that
Available online 18 February 2014
was fed into the anaerobic digester to ferment for 60 days at mesophilic temperature (22–31 °C). Though
BOD, COD, organic carbon and ash content in the feedstock were reduced after anaerobic digestion by
Keywords: 50.0%, 10.6%, 74.3% and 1.5% respectively, nitrogen, pH and total solids however increased by 12.1%,
Anaerobic digestion
42.5% and 12.4% respectively. The C/N ratios of the feedstock and compost are 135:1 and 15.8:1. The
Digestate
Biofertilizer
residual total coliforms of 2.10  108 CFU/100 ml in the digestate was above tolerable limits for direct
Pathogens application on farmlands. Microbial analysis of the digestate biofertilizer revealed the presence of
Public health Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Clostridium, Bacillus, Bacteroides, Penicillum, Salmollena, and Aspergillus. Klebsiella,
Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Penicillum and Aspergillus can boost the efficiency of the biofertilizer through
nitrogen fixation and nutrient solubility in soils but Klebsiella again and Salmollena are potential health risks
to end users. Further treatment of the digestate for more efficient destruction of pathogens is advised.
Ó 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction biofertilizer therefore is to provide socioeconomic and ecological

benefits among which are improvements of soil quality, food qual-
Research into the development of alternative energy sources ity and safety, human and animal health as well as environmental
has been increasing as a result of the non-renewable nature of quality (Johansen et al., 2013; Mohamed et al., 2009). There are dif-
fossil energy sources and recent environmental challenges ferent types of digestate biofertilizers and their differences are
(Alburquerque et al., 2012). Production of biogas through mainly in the raw materials used, forms of utilization, the source
anaerobic digestion of organic waste materials is on the frontline of microorganisms, and digester configurations, etc. (Garfi et al.,
of this alternative energy research. The major products of 2011; Higa and Parr, 1994). The use of digestate biofertilizers is
anaerobic digestion are biogas and digestate. Digestate comprises one of the important components of integrated nutrient manage-
microbial biomass, semi-degraded organic matter and inorganic ment, as they are cost effective and are renewable sources of plant
compounds, and therefore can be used as soil conditioners on nutrients for sustainable agriculture (Grigatti et al., 2011; Tamil
farmlands (Alburquerque et al., 2012). It contains more readily Nadu Agricultural University, 2008).
available nutrients than the undigested products which make it Anaerobic digestate usually contains microorganisms like
better for crops fertilization (Goberna et al., 2011; Garfi et al., Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Samonella, Penicillum, Shigella, Bacteriodes,
2011; Lansing et al., 2010). Aspergillus and Bacillus. These microorganisms can be exploited in
Large scale use of chemical fertilizers has resulted in soil quality the production of biofertilizers (Tamil Nadu Agricultural
and environmental degradation, eutrophication, and heavy metals University, 2008). Klebsiella and Clostridium spp. are free living
pollution (Owamah, 2013; Zhu et al., 2012). The importance of nitrogen fixing biofertilizers while Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp.
are phosphate solubilizing biofertilizers (Alfa et al., 2014). These
⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +234 8035705814.
organisms quicken the microbial processes in the soil and increase
the availability of nutrients that can be assimilated by plants
E-mail addresses: [email protected], [email protected]
(H.I. Owamah). (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, 2008). Biofertilizers hold

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2014.01.017
0956-053X/Ó 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
748 H.I. Owamah et al. / Waste Management 34 (2014) 747–752

great promises for improving world food security through the stove burner while plastic valves were installed to control the
enhancement of agricultural yield in developing continents such gas flow. The gas holder stores the biogas and allows the volume
as Africa and Asia, which together hold approximately 50% and of biogas produced to be measured through the indirect
74% of the total land mass and population of the globe, respectively measurement of a liquid column height. The digester and gas
(Population Reference Bureau, 2012). holder were designed, built and operated by the methods
Unlike chemical fertilizers, digestate biofertilizers can be described in (Fountoulakis et al., 2008; Karki, 2002) with slight
cheaply produced through anaerobic digestion anywhere, utilizing modifications. The composition of biogas (CH4 and CO2 contents)
a wide range of raw materials including agro, commercial and was determined using a gas chromatography (GC) (Hp 5890,
domestic wastes. Population growth and rising living standard Avondale, USA). Biogas composition measurement was taken two
have led to a great increase in food waste generation (Curry and times a week in duplicate from each digester. A 100 ll gas tight
Pillay, 2012). Sewage sludge has also been predicted to increase syringe was used to take biogas samples from the digesters head
continuously in the next decade as a result of increasing space after releasing the gas. This was followed by injecting the
population connected to sewage networks (Dai et al., 2013). Direct biogas sample into the GC (Owen et al., 1979; Zhang et al., 2006).
landfiling of food wastes has created various problems such as The schematic of the setup is as shown in Fig. 1.
putrid smell and leachate pollution of ground and surface waters
(Ming et al., 2008), and incineration has also been restricted due 2.2. Feedstock and materials
to its generation of greenhouse gases (Donald, 1988). Anaerobic
digestion as a sustainable waste treatment technology transforms Carbohydrate food wastes (boiled rice, boiled cassava products,
organic matter into biogas and reduces the amount of pathogens bread, boiled yam and boiled maize), human excreta, a forty litre
in digestates (Martínez et al., 2012). size anaerobic digester, pH meter (HI 9024-C, Hanna Instruments,
The demand for digestate biofertilizer is dependent on Smithfield, RI, USA), thermometer (HI 98517, Hanna Instr.),
compliance with quality standards (Alburquerque et al., 2012). anaerobic jar (Oxoid), gas generating kit (Bio-oxoid), different
Though the use of digestate biofertilizer to increase agricultural media (Nutrient agar, Potato dextrose agar, MacConkey agar, Eosin
food production, and soil improvement has been established, its methylene blue agar, and Fastidious anaerobic agar) were the
safety as determined by the amount of pathogens contained is still materials used in this study.
of public health concern to end users (Alfa et al., 2014). Reports on
the fertilizer and sanitary quality of digestate from anaerobic 2.3. Sampling, physico-chemical analysis and experiment
digestion are scanty in scientific literature, despite the large vol-
ume of literature on biogas yield from various substrates. However, Carbohydrate food wastes were collected from a university
the fertilizer potential of digestate from farm and agro-industrial cafeteria in two batches (10 am in the morning and 7 pm in the
residues was investigated by Alburquerque et al. (2012). Johansen evening) and sorted out for ease of pre-treatment. The periods of
et al. (2013) have also reported that digestate biofertilizer collection were selected to approximately match the periods of
increases soil microbial community. Alfa et al. (2014) have either peak consumption or defecation. The food wastes were
assessed the biofertilizer quality of digestate from the digestion thoroughly homogenized using a blender (BLG-401-18N) to
of cow dung and chicken droppings. The properties of guinea pig achieve minimal particulate size suitable for easy digestion. After
manure digestate were reported by Garfi et al. (2011). this, they were seeded with the human excreta which have also
Despite the numerous benefits of digestate biofertilizer to undergone thorough mixing. The mixture was a combination of
agricultural production, the relative abundance and ease of gener- 12 kg of food wastes and 3 kg of human excreta serving as an easy
ation of chosen substrates within the particular region of proposed source of microbes. This was further mixed with water in a 1:1 w/v
usage should also be given due consideration, inorder to meet with to make approximately 30-l slurry. The feedstock was fed into the
demands. Food wastes and excreta are among the most common digester (the digester was not in operation before the fermentation
wastes generated in Nigeria and are carelessly disposed into the experiment) and the fermentation process lasted for 60 days.
environment to constitute public health risk. The objective of this Parameters monitored and or determined during the fermentation
research therefore is to assess the biofertilizer and sanitary are: (a) daily recording of volume of gas produced, (b) the
quality of the digestate resulting from the mesophilic anaerobic temperature of the digester content was taken twice daily, (c)
co-digestion of food waste and human excreta. the pH of the digester content was taken weekly, (d) weekly
collection of samples for the isolation and assessment of the
microbial population causing the bio-conversion at different
2. Materials and methods stages, (e) analysis of the gas to separate it to its different
components and (f) physico-chemical analysis of the digestate at
2.1. Digester design the end of the experiment.
After the 60 days retention period, the slurry was removed from
A 40-l-biogas reactor of height 0.5 m and diameter 0.25 m was the digester, dewatered by filtration, using geo-textile tubes and
fabricated from galvanized steel. Galvanized steel was used as cured for 20 days to form compost. This was then applied to a
building material because of its strength and durability in acid or demonstration farmland for the cultivation of maize and
basic environment. Five different holes were bored on the lid of vegetables. However, the experiment on the effect of the cured
the digester for insertion of temperature and pH probes using digestate on the growth and yield of the maize and vegetables is
threaded steel adapters and rubber stoppers to avoid gas leakage. still on going. The physico-chemical characteristics of the feedstock
The cylindrical shape was adopted to enhance better mixing. The and the digestate were evaluated before and after fermentation
tank was air tight and was clearly placed above the ground level respectively using standard procedures (Owamah et al., 2013;
where it was exposed to sunlight for partial heating. A 12.1 L gas APHA, 2012). The physiochemical parameters analyzed include
holder tanks each of height 0.25 m and diameter 0.25 m were pH, temperature, organic carbon, moisture content, total solids,
fabricated from thin sheet metal and was used to temporarily store total nitrogen, ash content, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
the biogas until it was used to produce heat or used to replace or and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Three replicates were used
supplement the supply of cooking gas. Plastic hose was used to and the mean values of the parameters recorded. Mesophilic
connect the digester to the gas collection system and the biogas fermentation was preferred to thermophilic as it has been reported
 H.I. Owamah et al. / Waste Management 34 (2014) 747–752 749

Fig. 1. Schematic view of the digester set up.

that most of the nitrogen fixing and phosphate-solubilizing

microorganisms survive best at mesophilic temperature range
(Ghazifard et al., 2001). The digestate was cured for 20 days at
the prevailing ambient temperature of 31 °C inoder to form a
simple compost of the digestate. Constituent elements of the
compost were determined using standard methods (APHA, 2012).

2.4. Isolation of mesophilic microbes

Microbial population of the feedstock and digestate was

enumerated by standard plate count. Potato Dextrose agar (PDA)
plus Chloramphenicol was used for fungi while MacConkey agar,
Fastidious Anaerobic agar, Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar, and
Nutrients agar plates were used for bacteria enumeration. Fig. 2. Temperature changes during the anaerobic digestion.
Incubation of MacConkey, EMB and Nutrient agar plates was done
for 24–48 h at 37 °C. PDA plates were incubated within 3–5 days of temperature during the anaerobic digestion. The temperature
at room temperature. The incubation of Fastidious Anaerobic agar remained at mesophilic range throughout the study. The lowest
plates was done a 37 °C for 7 days in an anaerobic jar (Oxoid) that temperature reading of 22 °C was obtained on the 49th, 57th and
contained a moistened pack of gas generating kit (Bio-oxoid). 58th day while the highest of 31 °C was obtained on the first day
Purification and identification of individual colonies was done by of the digestion process. The pH of the anaerobic digestion
morphological and biochemical techniques (Jolt et al., 1994). fluctuated between 4.5 and 6.5 (Fig. 3) with higher biogas
Isolates of fungal were identified by the microscopic and production occurring when pH approached the neutral status.
macroscopic features of the hyphal mass, nature of the fruiting The mean microbial count in the feedstock before anaerobic
bodies, morphology of cells and spores, among other criteria digestion was 2.4  1010 for coliform, 2.0  1012 for total aerobic
(Tsuneo, 2010). Details of the isolation methods are contained in plate and 1.9  108 for fungal. The mean microbial count for the
(Dahunsi and Oranusi, 2013). Three counts were used to determine biofertilizer digestate was 2.0  108 for coliform, 1.0  104 for total
each mean value reported in this study. aerobic plate and 2.0  103 for fungal. The microbial population
found in the feedstock includes species of Escherichia, Citrobacter,
3. Results Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella, Clostridium, Bacteroides,
Enterobacter, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Streptococcus, Aspergillus,
From the physicochemical characteristics of the feedstock and Mucor, Rhizopus and Penicillium while those isolated from the
the resultant digestate as shown in Table 1, the amount of BOD, biofertilizer digestate include species of Pseudomonas, Klebsiella,
COD, organic carbon, and ash content in the feedstock was found Clostridium, Bacillus, Bacteroides, Penicillium and Aspergillus,
to be reduced by 50.0%, 10.6%, 74.3% and 1.5% respectively. Again, Salmonella (Table 2). The minimum and maximum biogas
there was an increase in total solids (by 12.4%), total suspended production of 200 cm3 and 6000 cm3 occurred on the 60th and
solids (by 12.6%) and nitrogen content (by 12.1%) of the digestate 23rd day of the anaerobic digestion, respectively (Fig. 4).
when compared with the original feedstock. The carbon/nitrogen The average percentage distribution of the microflora of the
ratio of the feedstock was 139:1. Fig. 2 gives the mean daily records digester feedstock during the period of digestion is shown in

Table 1
The physico-chemical parameters of the digester feedstock before and after digestion.

Parameter Before After %±

BOD (mg/L) 2589.0 ± 12.5 1294.33 ± 7.02 50.00 ( )
COD (mg/L) 1294.2 ± 43.4 1169.84 ± 348.18 10.63 ( )
Total solids (%) 6.6 ± 0.02 7.4 ± 0.02 12.39 (+)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) (%) 6.5 ± 0.05 7.3 ± 0.02 12.64 (+)
Organic carbon (%) 78.3 ± 1.74 20.1 ± 0.44 74.30 ( )
Nitrogen (%) 0.6 ± 0.03 0.7 ± 0.03 12.12 (+)
Phosphate (%) 0.73 ± 0.01
Ash (%) 1.6 ± 0.02 1.6 ± 0.03 1.51 ( )
pH 4.5 ± 0.02 6.5 ± 0.05 42.47 (+)
Carbon/nitrogen ratio 135:1 30.5:1 –

Number of replicates n = 3; ±standard deviation.

750 H.I. Owamah et al. / Waste Management 34 (2014) 747–752

Fig. 4. Daily gas production.

Fig. 3. pH changes during the anaerobic digestion.

Fig. 5. The cumulative total volume of biogas generated within the

60 days retention period is 85,200 cm3. The gas chromatography
analysis of the biogas revealed CH4 to be 58%, CO2 24% and other
impurities 19%. Table 3 shows the properties of the compost
obtained from the digestate and indicates a modification in pH.
From Table 3, the carbon, nitrogen and phosphate contents of the
compost were found to be 37.91%, 2.49% and 3.49% respectively.
The C/N ratio and pH of the resulting compost are 15.9:1 and 7.2.
Curing improved pH, carbon and nitrogen contents as found in Fig. 5. Percentage distribution of microorganisms in the digester.
the composted digestate (Table 3) in comparison to the uncured
digestate (Table 2). The mean microbial count per week of the
species of microorganisms found in the digester during the Table 3
anaerobic digestion, shows that the methanogens had the least Elemental composition of the resulting compost
growth rate over the retention period (Table 4). (biofertilizer).

Parameter Percentage (%)

4. Discussion pH 7.2
Phosphate 3.49
The 50.0% reduction in BOD, 10.6% in COD, 74.3% and 1.5% in Sulfate 0.10
Moisture content 15.63
organic carbon and ash content in the digestate when compared
Ash content 43.7
to the feedstock could be traced to the biodegradation of the Nitrite 0.056
organic matter in the substrate due to the activities of mesophilic Nitrate 0.024
microorganisms and the high initial C/N ratio of the feedstock Nitrogen 2.4
(Yun et al., 2000). Rapid and entire humification of a substrate Carbon 37.91
Carbon/nitrogen ratio 15.8
essentially depends on its initial C/N ratio (Beck-Friis et al., 2001).
The 10.6% reduction in COD is in agreement with the report of Number of replicate conuts n = 3; ±standard deviation.
Wei et al. (2011) in which a high COD removal from the supernatant
of hydrothermally treated municipal sewage sludge by upflow
anaerobic sludge blanket reactor was obtained. The two groups of however multiplied at a slower rate than the acid formers and were
bacteria isolated from the digester during the anaerobic digestion found to be very sensitive to environmental changes, such as pH
include the acid-formers (Bacillus, Escherichia, Clostridium, (Table 4). Fungal isolates include Aspergillius, Rhizopus, Penicillium
Klebsiella, Proteus and Bacteroides) and a methane former and Mucor; their major source was the human excreta. Pritchard
Methanococcus species. The correct balance between these two et al. (2009) reported a similar result when they isolated Escherichia
groups of microorganisms determines the successful operation of coli, Aspergillius, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium chavoie from
anaerobic digesters for biogas production. The methane formers water contaminated by human excreta in Malawi.

Table 2
Microbial counts of feedstock and digestate biofertilizer.

Sample Microbial load

TAPC Coliforn count Fungal count Species of organisms isolated
(CFU/100 ml
Feedstock 2.10  1012 ± 0.05 2.4  1010 ± 0.1 1.93  108 ± 0.1 Escherichia, Citrobacter, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Staphylococcus,
Streptococcus, Clostridium, Bacteroides, Aspergillus, Mucor, Rhizopus, Penicillum
4 8 3
Digestate 1.10  10 ± 0.10 2.10  10 ± 0.1 2.03  10 ± 0.2 Pseudomonas, Klebsiella Clostridium, Bacillus, Bacteroides, Penicillium, Aspergillus

Number of replicate conuts n = 3; ±standard deviation.

 H.I. Owamah et al. / Waste Management 34 (2014) 747–752 751

Table 4 solubilizing biofertilizers. Bacillus species also act as solubilizers for

Mean microbial count per week (106 CFU/ml). trace elements like silicates and zinc as well as plant growth
Week Aerobes Anaerobes Fungi Methanogens promoters. Pseudomonas species are known for promoting plant
1 1.4 0.6 0.6 – growth. Species of Aspergillus and Penicillum are also phosphate
2 1.6 0.8 0.8 – solubilizing fungi (Alfa et al., 2014). The presence of all these
3 1.9 0.8 0.7 – organisms makes the digestate useful as biofertilizer. Biofertilizers
4 1.1 0.8 7.0 – are not only suitable for use as soil conditioners and fertilizers, but
5 0.9 0.9 0.8 –
6 1.0 0.9 0.9 –
can also suppress soil-borne and foliar plant pathogens (Hadar and
7 1.2 9.0 0.7 0.5 Mandelbaum, 1992).
8 1.4 9.0 0.7 0.7 The mean microbial count revealed decreasing trend in total
9 1.5 1.2 0.9 0.9 coliform, total aerobic plate and fungal in the biofertilizer digestate
as against their higher values in the feedstock (Table 2). This agrees
with (Shu-Hsien et al., 2007) that microbial population has a
There was an increasing trend in the aerobic count within the tendency to decrease within the first seven days of anaerobic
first three weeks of the anaerobic digestion possibly due to the digestion due to acidic environment and then remains steady
richness of the digester feedstock in carbon, providing nutrients during the biofertilizer preparation. Though anaerobic digestate
for the micro-aerophillic organisms to utilize (Table 4). This may can be used to efficiently improve the fertility of soil and boost
also be due to the acidic nature of the feedstock over the first three crop production, its safety still remains a source of concern to
weeks which supports the proliferation of acid-producing end users due to pathogens (Alfa et al., 2014). In this study,
organisms. The observed increase in fungal isolates over the weeks anaerobic digestion was found to reduce the microbial load in
is in contrast with fungal general physiology and metabolism the digestate but the residual total coliform content of
which is known to be purely aerobic and therefore calls for further 2.10  108 CFU/100 ml is however above tolerable limits for use
research. The methanogenic bacteria were the least populated in as direct fertilizer on farmlands (Tsuneo, 2010; Yun et al., 2000).
the digester representing 8% (Fig. 5). Similar reduction in total coliforms after anaerobic digestion was
The pH data obtained (Fig. 3) shows an initial fall to a more reported by Goberna et al. (2011). The presence of Salmonella
acidic level before assuming stable values toward neutrality. By and Klebsiella spp. in the digestate calls for concern in its use on
the 4th week, a pH of 6.4 was obtained and thereafter remained farmlands. Salmonellae are known pathogens and could be
within 6.0–6.5 throughout the fermentation period thus account- transmitted to man and animals via contaminated food, feed and
ing for the scanty population of the methanogens, which could water (Chen et al., 1998). Klebsiella spp. have been reported to be
have contributed to the reduction in gas production in the latter infectious to humans amidst its usefulness as nitrogen fixing
period of the anaerobic digestion. The initial drop in pH is impor- bacteria in a biofertilizer (Chin et al., 1999; Nakasaki et al.,
tant since the activities of aerobes and facultative aerobes are 1993). The presence of Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp. and total
essential to produce relevant acidic metabolites, which are later coliforms only suggests that the digestate may not be safe for
acted upon by methanogenic bacteria to produce methane. Meth- direct application as fertilizer for crops that are eaten raw without
anogenesis is known to occur best within a pH range of about 6.0 further treatment of the digestate. This however does not
and 7.8. In the present study maximum biogas production corre- discourage the use of digestate biofertilizer for improvement of soil
sponds with pH 6.4 of the 4th week (Figs. 3 and 4). This is inline fertility but implies that care should be taken in the use of
with the report of Alkan-Ozkaynak and Karthikayan (2011) where digestate biofertilizer to safeguard public health.
the highest biogas yields were observed at pH 8. The observed in- Fig. 4 is the graph of the daily gas production; the production
crease in pH could have contributed to the reduction in pathogens started on the 9th day of fermentation with 600 cm3 of biogas
in the biofertilizer digestate as most pathogens cannot tolerate and followed an increasing trend. It reached its peak (6000 cm3)
high pH levels. Yun et al. (2000) have also reported that a large on the 23rd day before a gradual fall in production rate was
amount pathogen is destroyed by the metabolic heat generated recorded for the rest of the study period. The least volume of biogas
by microorganisms during anaerobic digestion. Temperature was (200 cm3) was obtained during the last four days of the experi-
observed to maintain mesophilic range (22–31 °C) throughout ment. The fertilizer quality of the digestate biofertilizer obtained
the period of the anaerobic digestion indicating that the biofertiliz- in this study is comparable to those reported earlier using pure
er can be produced within such temperature range (Fig. 2). microbial inocula of phosphate solubilizing Aspergillus species
There were increases in nitrogen content (12.1%), total solids (Tiquia and Tam, 2002; El-Azouni, 2008). The 20 day curing period
(12.4%) and total suspended (12.6%) after the anaerobic digestion for the compost preparation led to improvements in the pH from
(Table 1). The physicochemical analysis of the compost (Table 3) 6.46 to 7.2 and in the C/N ratio. The pH and C/N ratio (15.8:1) of
shows that the compost had nitrogen (2.4%) and phosphate the compost obtained in this study are good for crop production
(3.49%). While nitrogen is needed by plants for vegetative growth as the uptake of available nutrients by plants is enhanced at these
and enzymatic reactions, phosphate is required for seed produc- pH and C/N ratio (Hartmann et al., 2002). It is therefore advisable
tion and root development. The nitrogen in the compost was to convert digestate from anaerobic digestion to compost by curing
mainly ammonium nitrogen and could be lost by ammonia volati- before utilization as biofertilizer.
sation. The storage and application of the composted digestate
should therefore be carefully controlled to prevent negative envi-
ronmental impacts. 5. Conclusion
Species of bacteria and fungi isolated from the biofertilizer
digestate include Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Clostridium, Bacillus, Digestate biofertilizer from the anaerobic digestion of food
Salmolena, Bacteroides Penicillum and Aspergillus. Klebsiella and wastes and human excreta can be used to improve soil fertility.
Clostridium species are known to be free-living nitrogen-fixing Results from this study show significant reductions in BOD, COD
organisms (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, 2008). The and organic carbon content in the digestate when compared to
presence of these organisms in the biofertilizer would enhance the feedstock. Temperature was observed to maintain mesophilic
the fertility of soil for crop production (Tamil Nadu Agricultural range throughout the period of digestion indicating that the biofer-
University, 2008). Bacillus and Pseudomonas species are phosphate tilizer can be produced at such temperature. The presence of nitro-
752 H.I. Owamah et al. / Waste Management 34 (2014) 747–752

gen fixing and phosphate solubilizing organisms in the digestate Goberna, M., Podmirseg, S.M., Waldhuber, S., Knapp, B.A., Garcia, C., Insam, H., 2011.
Pathogenic bacteria and mineral N in soils following the land spreading of
shows that it could be utilized as an efficient biofertilizer for crop
biogas digestates and fresh manure. Appl Soil Ecology 49, 18–28.
production. The mean microbial count revealed decreasing trend Grigatti, M., Di Girolamo, G., Chincarini, R., Ciavatta, C., 2011. Potental nitrogen
for total coliform, total aerobic plate, and fungal in the digestate mineralization, plant ultilization efficiency and soil CO2 emissions following the
as against their higher values in the feedstock. However, the pres- addition of anaerobic digested slurries. Biomass Bioenergy 35 (11), 4619–4629.
Hadar, Y., Mandelbaum, R., 1992. Suppressive compost for bio-control of soil borne
ence of Salmonella ., Klebsiella and total coliforms in the digestate plant pathogens. Phytoparas 20, 113–116.
suggests that it may not be safe to apply the digestate as fertilizer Hartmann, H.T., Dale, E.K., Davies Jr., F.T., Geneve, R.I., 2002. Plant propagation,
without further treatment. Because of the easy loss of ammonia principles and practices, 6th ed. Prentice Hall of India Private Limited, New
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posted digestate should be carefully controlled to prevent negative Agriculture and environment. International Nature Farming Research Centre
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