[Studies on the composting of feathers (author's transl)].
The nitrogen of keratin of feathers is not taken up by plants as a suitable N-source. It becomes available by the keratinolytic activity of microorganisms. The high temperature evolved during the composting process promotes the growth and activity of thermophilic, keratin-decomposing microorganisms, e.g. Thermoactinomyces vulgaris. The increasing in temperature (self-heating) reflects the course of composting. A feather-peat mixture exhibits a considerably high heat production, i.e. a fast decomposition of keratin and other organic matter.
D000383:Agriculture; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000378:metabolism; D005241:Feathers / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008848:Micromonosporaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology
D000596:Amino Acids; D012987:Soil; D007633:Keratins; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D005947:Glucose
Untersuchungen zur Kompostierung von Federabfällen.