Aspergillus niger as an eco-friendly agent for potassium release from K- bearing minerals: Isolation, screening and culture medium optimization using Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology

The potential of Aspergillus niger, to enhance non-exchangeable potassium (K+) release from mineral structures were investigated as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers. Optimizing the culture medium for maximum K+ release, alongside identifyi...

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Main Authors: Sanaz Ashrafi-Saiedlou, MirHassan Rasouli-Sadaghiani, Abass Samadi, Mohsen Barin, Ebrahim Sepehr
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-04-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402405148X
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author Sanaz Ashrafi-Saiedlou
MirHassan Rasouli-Sadaghiani
Abass Samadi
Mohsen Barin
Ebrahim Sepehr
author_facet Sanaz Ashrafi-Saiedlou
MirHassan Rasouli-Sadaghiani
Abass Samadi
Mohsen Barin
Ebrahim Sepehr
author_sort Sanaz Ashrafi-Saiedlou
collection DOAJ
description The potential of Aspergillus niger, to enhance non-exchangeable potassium (K+) release from mineral structures were investigated as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers. Optimizing the culture medium for maximum K+ release, alongside identifying potential mechanisms of action of the A. niger including the production of various organic acids and pH reduction in the minerals feldspar and phlogopite, were among the primary objectives of the present study. K+ dissolution from feldspar and phlogopite in the presence of Aspergillus niger were examined through a two-step experiment; impact of different carbon sources (glucose, sucrose, and fructose) on K+ release using the Plackett-Burman design (PBD) with 12 experimental runs and effect of other independent variables including pH (ranging from 5 to 10), carbon concentration (3–12.3 g l−1), and incubation time (5–18 days) on K+ release using the central composite design (CCD). Our results indicated that the PBD demonstrated a strong predictive capacity (RMSE = 0.012–0.018 g l−1 and R2 = 0.85–0.89) for K+ release. According to the CCD model, pH exerted a significant positive influence on increasing soluble K+ release (P < 0.001). The highest levels of K+ release (157.8 and 175.3 mg l−1 in feldspar and phlogopite, respectively) were observed at the central levels (0) of time and carbon source, and at the +α level (+1.68) of pH. Furthermore, based on the CCD model, the optimal conditions for achieving high K+ release from feldspar and phlogopite in a medium were pHs of 10.36 and 10.31, sucrose concentrations of 11.23 and 11.32 g l−1, and incubation times of 15 and 18 days, respectively. The determination coefficients of the CCD model indicated that 89.5% and 92.6% of the changes in soluble K+ for feldspar and phlogopite, could be explained by this model, respectively. In the current study, the production of organic acids and the resulting pH reduction, along with the reduction in mineral particle size in feldspar and phlogopite, were identified as potential mechanisms influencing the enhancement of potassium solubility. The predominant acids in both feldspar and phlogopite were lactic acid (70.9 and 69.15 mg l−1) and citric acid (40.48 and 22.93 mg l−1), although the production levels of organic acids differed in the two minerals. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of A. niger to proficiently release non-exchangeable potassium from mineral matrices, indicating its promising potential in agricultural applications.
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spelling doaj.art-91db9bac75e3422b9aa2e9011a1093aa2024-04-10T04:29:14ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-04-01107e29117Aspergillus niger as an eco-friendly agent for potassium release from K- bearing minerals: Isolation, screening and culture medium optimization using Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodologySanaz Ashrafi-Saiedlou0MirHassan Rasouli-Sadaghiani1Abass Samadi2Mohsen Barin3Ebrahim Sepehr4Corresponding author.; Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, IranCorresponding author.; Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, IranDepartment of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, IranDepartment of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, IranDepartment of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, IranThe potential of Aspergillus niger, to enhance non-exchangeable potassium (K+) release from mineral structures were investigated as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers. Optimizing the culture medium for maximum K+ release, alongside identifying potential mechanisms of action of the A. niger including the production of various organic acids and pH reduction in the minerals feldspar and phlogopite, were among the primary objectives of the present study. K+ dissolution from feldspar and phlogopite in the presence of Aspergillus niger were examined through a two-step experiment; impact of different carbon sources (glucose, sucrose, and fructose) on K+ release using the Plackett-Burman design (PBD) with 12 experimental runs and effect of other independent variables including pH (ranging from 5 to 10), carbon concentration (3–12.3 g l−1), and incubation time (5–18 days) on K+ release using the central composite design (CCD). Our results indicated that the PBD demonstrated a strong predictive capacity (RMSE = 0.012–0.018 g l−1 and R2 = 0.85–0.89) for K+ release. According to the CCD model, pH exerted a significant positive influence on increasing soluble K+ release (P < 0.001). The highest levels of K+ release (157.8 and 175.3 mg l−1 in feldspar and phlogopite, respectively) were observed at the central levels (0) of time and carbon source, and at the +α level (+1.68) of pH. Furthermore, based on the CCD model, the optimal conditions for achieving high K+ release from feldspar and phlogopite in a medium were pHs of 10.36 and 10.31, sucrose concentrations of 11.23 and 11.32 g l−1, and incubation times of 15 and 18 days, respectively. The determination coefficients of the CCD model indicated that 89.5% and 92.6% of the changes in soluble K+ for feldspar and phlogopite, could be explained by this model, respectively. In the current study, the production of organic acids and the resulting pH reduction, along with the reduction in mineral particle size in feldspar and phlogopite, were identified as potential mechanisms influencing the enhancement of potassium solubility. The predominant acids in both feldspar and phlogopite were lactic acid (70.9 and 69.15 mg l−1) and citric acid (40.48 and 22.93 mg l−1), although the production levels of organic acids differed in the two minerals. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of A. niger to proficiently release non-exchangeable potassium from mineral matrices, indicating its promising potential in agricultural applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402405148XModelingPotassium-solubilizing fungusCentral composite designPotassium-bearing mineralsOrganic acidsCitric acid
spellingShingle Sanaz Ashrafi-Saiedlou
MirHassan Rasouli-Sadaghiani
Abass Samadi
Mohsen Barin
Ebrahim Sepehr
Aspergillus niger as an eco-friendly agent for potassium release from K- bearing minerals: Isolation, screening and culture medium optimization using Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology
Heliyon
Modeling
Potassium-solubilizing fungus
Central composite design
Potassium-bearing minerals
Organic acids
Citric acid
title Aspergillus niger as an eco-friendly agent for potassium release from K- bearing minerals: Isolation, screening and culture medium optimization using Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology
title_full Aspergillus niger as an eco-friendly agent for potassium release from K- bearing minerals: Isolation, screening and culture medium optimization using Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology
title_fullStr Aspergillus niger as an eco-friendly agent for potassium release from K- bearing minerals: Isolation, screening and culture medium optimization using Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology
title_full_unstemmed Aspergillus niger as an eco-friendly agent for potassium release from K- bearing minerals: Isolation, screening and culture medium optimization using Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology
title_short Aspergillus niger as an eco-friendly agent for potassium release from K- bearing minerals: Isolation, screening and culture medium optimization using Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology
title_sort aspergillus niger as an eco friendly agent for potassium release from k bearing minerals isolation screening and culture medium optimization using plackett burman design and response surface methodology
topic Modeling
Potassium-solubilizing fungus
Central composite design
Potassium-bearing minerals
Organic acids
Citric acid
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402405148X
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