Exploration of Cellulolytic Microorganism as A Biocatalyst Candidate for Liquid Fertilizer Production

The raw materials of liquid fertilizer production are cellulose. Hence, cellulases are needed as biocatalisator of liquid fertilizer production. Cellulases are produced by cellulolytic microbes, bacteria and fungi. Soil is a habitat dominated by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae, and protozoa. Isolation of cellulolytic bacteria was done by using a screening medium containing 1% CMC. Cellulolytic bacteria was selected based on clear zone which form surrounding the colonies. Cellulase activity was measured by dinitrosalisilic acid (DNS) method. In this research, microorganisms that produce cellulases have been isolated from the soil of agricultural waste, and one with the highest activity has been studied for its benefits as a biocatalytic candidate in the production of liquid fertilizer. It was observed four isolates of microorganisms producing cellulases, the widest clear zone produced by NH1 isolate had diameter of 19.69 ± 0.3 mm. The optimum pH and temperature of crude extracts of cellulases were 8.0 and 60°C, respectively. The total nitrogen level in the production of liquid fertilizer with and without crude extracts of cellulases are 0.2073% and 0.1104%, respectively. So this crude extracts of cellulases increase 87,77% of total nitrogen level.