THE EFFECT OF BIOMODIFICATION WITH Trichoderma harzianum ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND IN VITRO GAS FERMENTATION CHARACTERISTICS OF MELON SEED HUSK WITH OR WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTATION WITH WHEAT BRAN

THE EFFECT OF BIO-MODIFICATION WITH Trichoderma harzianum ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND IN VITRO GAS FERMENTATION CHARACTERISTICS OF MELON SEED HUSK WITH OR WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTATION WITH WHEAT BRAN

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of biomodification with the fungi Trichoderma harzianum on the chemical composition as well as the in vitro gas production characteristics of melon seed husk (MH) with or without supplementation with wheat bran (WB). Wheat bran supplemented melon seed husk (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) were inoculated with Trichoderma harzianum for 21 days and later dried and milled for chemical analysis and in vitro gas fermentation study. The result showed that supplementation in general was effective in increasing significantly (P < 0.05) the crude protein and decreasing the cell wall fraction. The treatment with Trichoderma harzianum increased the CP from 5.25%, 7.88%, 10.00%, 13.13%, 14.90% for the untreated to 5.70%, 8.32%, 10.95%, 14.90% and 16.20% in the treated form of 0WB:100MH, 25WB:75MH, 50WB:50MH, 75WB:25MH, 100WB:0MH respectively. Although only 75WB:25MH was significantly different (P < 0.05). The value for NDF of the treated ranged from 49.00% for 100WB:0MH to 82.50% for 0WB:100MH. Although only 75WB:25MH and 100WB:0MH had significant decreases (P < 0.05). The value for ADF of the treated ranged from 7.00% for 100WB:0MH to 60.00% for 0WB:100MH and only the decrease of 25WB:75MH was not significant (P > 0.05). The values for hemicelluloses for the treated ranged from 22.50% for 0WB:100MH to 42.00% for 100WB:0MH with only 100WB:0MH having a significant decrease (P < 0.05). Gas volume, DMD, OMD, SCFA were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the untreated sample values when compared to the treated values. This result suggest that Trichoderma harzianum appears to be a weak fungi in the treatment of agricultural waste to enhance the nutritive value and digestibility.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Title page————ii

Abstract————iii

Acknowledgement———–iv

Certification————v

Dedication————vi

Table of contents———–vii

List of tables————xi

List of figures————xii

List of plates ————xiii

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction ———–1

1.1 Research Objectives ———-3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review ———-4

2.1 History of In Vitro Gas Production ——–4

2.2 Factors That Potentially Affect Gas Production Profiles (GPP)—-5

2.2.1 Effect of Sample Size and Preparation ——-5

2.2.2 Effect of Agitation of the Medium ——–6

2.2.3 Effect of Changes in Atmospheric Pressure——-7

2.2.4 Effect of Venting Gas During the Incubation ——8

2.2.5 Effect of Inoculum ———8

2.2.6 Use of Blanks ———-9

2.2.7 Effect of Medium Composition ——–9

2.2.8 Effect of Apparatus ———10

2.3 Melon (Colocynthis citrullus) ——–10

2.4 Melon Seed Husk ———-11

2.5 Biomodification of Agricultural Waste with Mushrooms—–11

2.6 Effect of Biomodification of Melon Seed Husk with Mushrooms—-12

2.7 Effect of Biomodification of other Agricultural Waste with Mushrooms—13

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and Methods ———18

3.1 Collection of Samples ———18

3.2 Preparation for Inoculation ——–18

3.2.1 Cleaning of the Bottles ———18

3.2.2 Supplementation ———-19

3.2.3 Filling of the Bottles ———19

3.3 The Fungi and its Source ———21

3.4 Inoculation ———–22

3.5 Chemical Analysis ———-23

3.5.1 Dry Matter Determination ———23

3.5.2 Ash and Organic Matter Determination ——-24

3.5.3 Crude Protein Determination ——–24

3.6 Cell Wall Fraction Determination (NDF, ADF, HEMICELLULOSE) —25

3.7 In Vitro Gas Fermentation Study ——–26

Statistical Analysis ———30

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Results ———–31

4.1 Chemical Composition of Trichoderma harzianum treated Melon Seed Husk with or without supplementation with wheat bran ——31

4.2 In vitro Gas production at different hours of Incubation —-37

4.3 Post in vitro Gas production parameter For Trichoderma harzianum Treated Melon seed husk with or without supplementation with wheat bran—-41

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Discussion ———–46

5.1 Chemical composition of Trichoderma harzianum Treated Melon seed husk with or without supplementation with wheat bran ——46

5.2 In vitro Gas production at Different hours of incubation for Trichoderma harzianum Treated Melon seed husk with or without supplementation with wheat bran–47

5.3 Post in vitro Gas production parameters for Trichoderma harzianum Treated Melon seed husk with or without Supplementation with wheat bran —-49

CHAPTER SIX

6.0 Conclusion and Recommendation ——–51

References

LIST OF TABLES

Page Table 3.1: Experimental Treatments and their Description —– 19

Table 3.2: Experimental Treatments and the Quantity required for Four Bottles — 20

Table 4.1: The Dry Matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP), Ash and Organic Matter (OM)

of Trichoderma harzianum treated Melon Seed Husk with or

without Supplementation with Wheat Bran—— 32

Table 4.2: The cell wall Fraction of Trichoderma harzianum treated Melon Seed

Husk with or without Supplementation with Wheat Bran—- 35

Table 4.3: The In Vitro Gas Production at Different Hours of Incubation for

Trichoderma harzianum treated Melon Seed Husk with or without

Supplementation with Wheat Bran——- 39

Table 4.4: Post In Vitro Gas Production Parameters for Trichoderma harzianum 

treated Melon Seed Husk with or without Supplementation with

Wheat Bran ———- 43

LIST OF FIGURES

Pages

Figure 4.1: The Dry Matter Content of Treated and Untreated Samples —33

Figure 4.2: The Crude Protein Content of Treated and Untreated Samples—33

Figure 4.3: The Ash Content of Treated and Untreated Samples—-34

Figure 4.4: The Organic Matter Content of Treated and Untreated Samples—34

Figure 4.5: The NDF Content of Treated And Untreated Samples—-35

Figure 4.6: The ADF Content of Treated and Untreated Samples—-36

Figure 4.7: The Hemicellulose Content of Treated and Untreated Samples—36

Figure 4.8: The Volume of Gas Produced by the Treated Samples—-40

Figure 4.9: The Volume of Gas Produced by the Untreated Samples —-40

Figure 4.10: The Volume of Gas Produced by the Treated and Untreated Samples –41

Figure 4.11: The Volume of Methane Produced by the Treated and Untreated Samples -44

Figure 4.12: The DMD of Treated and Untreated Samples —–44

Figure 4.13: The OMD of treated and untreated samples—–45

Figure 4.14: The SCFA of treated and untreated samples—–45

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THE EFFECT OF BIO-MODIFICATION WITH Trichoderma harzianum ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND IN VITRO GAS FERMENTATION CHARACTERISTICS OF MELON SEED HUSK WITH OR WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTATION WITH WHEAT BRAN