Effect of Effluent from Biodigestion of Pre-Treated Rice Bran and Animal Manure on the Dry Matter Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Amaranthus viridis

The effect of effluents from biodigestion of pre-treated rice bran in combination with two types of animal manure on dry matter yield of Amarathus viridis was investigated using two pre-treatment methods: Soaking in ordinary distilled water and boiled in distilled water at 100 ̊C. The pre-treated rice bran and animal manure were mixed (w/w basis) to give carbon to nitrogen ratio of 35:1 and 37:1 prior to loading into the digester to make eight different treatment combinations as follow: 1) Cow dung with no rice bran (NRB + CD); 2) Raw rice bran + cow dung (RRB + CD); 3) Soaked rice bran in ordinary distilled water + cow dung (SRB + CD); 4) Boiled rice bran + cow dung (BRB + CD); 5) Poultry manure with no rice bran (NRB + PM); 6) Raw rice bran + poultry manure (RRB + PM); 7) Soaked rice bran + poultry manure (SRB + PM); 8) Boiled rice bran + poultry manure (BRB + PM). Samples of different treatment combinations were collected before digestion, both the samples and resultant effluents were subjected to elemental analysis using AAS. The effluents from the biodigestion of these combinations were applied at two rates (80 and 150 kg N ha) to 3 kg air-dried and sieved soil samples (0 20) cm in the greenhouse, control (0 kg N ha) and reference pot with NPK fertilizer at the 80 kg N ha were arranged in a completely randomized design replicated three times. Amaranthus plants were introduced into each treated pot, left for four weeks before harvest, dry matter yields were recorded. Results of chemical analysis of raw materials and effluents obtained after biodigestion revealed the presence of all plant nutrients in both the raw materials and resultant effluents though the former had higher values in some How to cite this paper: Ojo, O.F., Ogunwande, G.A., Adesanwo, O.O. and Olatoberu, F.T. (2021) Effect of Effluent from Biodigestion of Pre-Treated Rice Bran and Animal Manure on the Dry Matter Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Amaranthus viridis. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 12, 1255-1268. https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2021.1212092 Received: September 27, 2021 Accepted: December 20, 2021 Published: December 23, 2021 Copyright © 2021 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access


Introduction
Conventional farming has played an important role in improving production of food to meet human demands through intensive application of inorganic fertilizers [1]. High cost and scarcity of inorganic fertilizers in developing countries led to renewed interest in the use of unorthodox organic materials as nutrient sources for crop production especially Amaranthus viridis. Application of NPK and urea fertilizers is a normal practice in amaranthus production, however, previous reports revealed the negative impacts of continuous application of these mineral fertilizers both on soil properties and the environment [2]. The use of easily available and cheap agrowastes by vegetable farmers in peri-urban areas ensures the sustainability of vegetable production, more balanced crop nutrition and environmental sanitation. These agro wastes include animal wastes such as poultry manure and cow dung, and other plant residues [3]. However, huge quantities are needed to meet up the nutrient needs of many crops thus reducing its wide application. Therefore, there is a need for a low-cost technology for better utilization. Rice bran (RB) is the most abundant agricultural residue in rice producing countries around the world and one of the major by-products of the rice milling process. It constitutes about 20% of the paddy by weight [4] and is very rich in plant nutrients [5] [6]. Rice bran when ploughed into the soil takes a long time to decompose because of its high C:N ratio [7]. Rice farmers in Nigeria usually result to open burning to manage the huge quantities, this method is accompanied by a lot of environmental hazards.
Recently, research attention in tropical countries has shifted to the utilization of effluents from biodigestion of organic materials to improve soil fertility and yield of crops. Previous reports showed evidence of increased crop production by using effluent from biogidestion of organic materials [8]. [9]

Collection of Soil Samples and Analysis
Soils samples used for the experiment were randomly collected at 0 -20 cm soil depth from an exhaustively cropped land which had been farmed continuously for over four years at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife located on latitudes 7˚31'N and 7˚33'N and longitudes 4˚33'E and 4˚34'E, in the rain forest zone of southwest Nigeria. The experimental soil was classified as Iwo series (ultisol) [10]. The soil samples were air dried and sieved. The fraction that passed through a 5 mm was used for greenhouse studies while the fraction that passed through a 2 mm sieve was subjected to both physical and chemical analysis in the laboratory of the Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management. The particle size distribution was determined using the modified method of [11] described by [12] Soil pH was determined using a glass electrode pH meter in 0.01 M CaCl 2 solution, [13] and modified by [14]. Total N was determined using the method described by [15]. Soil organic matter was determined using the method described by [16] as modified by [17].
Concentrations of K and Na in the solution were determined with the flame photometer (PG-FP902 microprocessor model) while Ca, Mg concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer PG-AA500FG model. The exchangeable acidity was determined by 1 N KCl extraction solution [22]. The soil CEC was determined by the addition of exchangeable and exchangeable acidity [20] [23] modified by [24]. Micro nutrients contents (Fe, Zn, Mn Cu), and Heavy metals (Pb, Cd) were also determined [25].

Pre-Treatment of the Materials
Two pre-treatment methods were used: rice bran boiled at 100˚C for 30  were mixed (w/w basis) to give carbon to nitrogen ratio of 35:1 and 37:1 prior to loading into the digesters. Eight different treatment combinations were subjected to anaerobic digestion for 16 weeks at the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering 1) Cow dung with no rice bran (CD); 2) Raw rice bran + cow dung (RRB:CD); 3) Soaked rice bran + cow dung (SRB:CD); 4) Boiled rice bran + cow dung (BRB:CD); 5) Poultry manure with no rice bran (PM); 6) Raw rice bran + poultry manure (RRB:PM); 7) Soaked rice bran + poultry manure (SRB:PM); 8) Boiled rice bran + poultry manure (BRB:PM). The mixture was digested for 16 weeks and the digestion was carried out at the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering). The control treatments had zero level of rice bran. After the mixing, the digesters were loaded and the digesters were then hermetically sealed. The digesters were agitated manually twice daily to ensure intimate contact between micro-organisms and the substrate as well as uniform heat distribution.

Greenhouse Experiment
The effect of effluents generated from the biogas production on the growth of Amaranthus viridis was tested in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Three kilogrammes of air-dried and sieved surface soil were filled into each 7 cm × 19.2 cm × 13.8 cm (height x top diameter × base diameter) pot. The pots had perforations underneath to prevent water logging and ensure soil aeration. The pots were arranged in complete randomized design, control pots and reference pots (80 Kg N ha −1 NPK fertilizer) were included to make a total of 10 treatments. The effluents were incorporated into the soil at application rates of 80 and 150 kg N ha −1 two weeks prior to sowing of Amaranthus viridis. All were replicated thrice to give a total of 54 pots labeled and arranged in a completely randomized design. The pots were moistened to and maintained at 70% of the soil's field moisture capacity and the applied treatments were allowed to undergo incubation for a period of two weeks.
Seeds of Amaranthus viridis were sown into each pot and thinned to two stands, one week after sowing (WAS).

Determination of Nutrient Uptake
The nutrients in the plant samples were extracted using wet ash digestion method. Nitrogen content was determined using Kjeldahl method as described by [15]. Other nutrients (P, K, Ca, Fe, Mg, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cr, Cd, Ar, Ni and Hg) were determined using method as described by AOAC [27]. The nutrient uptake was determined according to [26].

Statistical Analysis
The data obtained from anaerobic digestion was subjected to two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine variation in properties. Where significance was indicated, the means were separated using Duncan's New Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% significance level. However, greenhouse experiment data was subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using Duncan's New Multiple Range Test at 5% significance level. The statistical analysis was performed using the GLM procedure of Statistical Analysis System [28] software.

Physicochemical Properties of Soil
The physical and chemical properties of the soil used in the study were presented in Table 1 [29]. Similarly, micronutrient contents were below the critical values for optimum crop production [30] thus indicating the low fertility status of the soil.

Selected Chemical Properties of the Feedstock and Effluent
The nutrients and heavy metal contents in feedstock and effluents were presented in Table 2 and  Where NRB:CD = no rice bran + cow dung; RRB:CD = raw rice bran + cow dung; SRB:CD = soaked rice bran + cow dung; BRB:CD = boiled rice bran + cow dung; NRB:PM = no rice bran + poultry manure; RRB:PM = raw rice bran + poultry manure; SRB:PM = soaked rice bran + poultry manure; BRB:PM = boiled rice bran + poultry manure. to the raw sample. In addition, likehoodly of micronutrients toxicity will be less pronounced with the effluents compared to application of raw samples. These results are in close conformity with previous work by [34]. Result of chemical composition of the effluent from bio digestion of combined rice bran and animal manure showed the potential of these effluents as a viable alternative to mineral fertilizer. Almost all the plant nutrients were present in an adequate amount.

Effects of Effluent from Bio-Digestion of Rice Bran with Animal Manure Treatment on Dry Matter Yield, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium Uptake of Amaranthus viridis Plants
The results showing the effects of effluents from biodigestion of rice bran and animal manure on dry matter yield, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake of Amaranthus viridis were presented in Table 4. Application of effluents from different treatment combinations significantly increased dry matter yield of Amaranthus viridis over the control pot, highest dry matter yield was recorded from pot treated with effluent from biodigestion of BRB:PM at the rate of 150 kg N ha −1 and significantly higher than NPK treated pot, this is an indication of the Means having the same letter(s) in the columns are not significantly different at 5% significant level. Where NRB:CD = no rice bran + cow dung; RRB:CD = raw rice bran + cow dung; SRB:CD = soaked rice bran + cow dung; BRB:CD = boiled rice bran + cow dung; NRB:PM = no rice bran + poultry manure; RRB:PM = raw rice bran + poultry manure; SRB:PM = soaked rice bran + poultry manure; BRB:PM = boiled rice bran + poultry manure.

Effects of Effluent from Bio-Digestion of Rice Bran with Animal Manure Treatment on Calcium and Magnesium Uptake of Amaranthus viridis Plants
Positive significant (p < 0.05) effects of the effluents and NPK treatments over control pot were recorded for Ca and Mg uptake in Amaranthus viridis as presented in Figure 1.  influenced by the application of effluents from different treatment combinations was presented in Table 5. Extremely low values in all the heavy metals studied further support the potential of using effluents from biodigestion of rice bran and animal manure as viable fertilizer compared with mineral fertilizer.

Conclusion
The study revealed the high plant nutrient status of effluents from biodigestion of rice bran with animal manure, extremely low amount of micronutrients and heavy metal too showed the potentials of using these effluents as a viable alter-  Means having the same letter(s) in the columns are not significantly different at 5% significant level. Where NRB:CD = no rice bran + cow dung; RRB:CD = raw rice bran + cow dung; SRB:CD = soaked rice bran + cow dung; BRB:CD = boiled rice bran + cow dung, NRB:PM = no rice bran + poultry manure; RRB:PM = raw rice bran + poultry manure; SRB:PM = soaked rice bran + poultry manure; BRB:PM = boiled rice bran + poultry manure.
fertilizer over mineral fertilizer for the production of Amaranthus viridis. This will ensure food security at a sustainable level.