Changes in mineral forms of nitrogen and sulfur and enzymatic activities during composting of lignocellulosic waste and chicken feathers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to show the dynamics of changes in the activity of enzymes responsible for C, N, and S metabolism, i.e., cellulase, protease, urease, and arylsulfatase in two lignocellulosic composts as well as changes in the concentration of mineral forms important in plant nutrition (N-NH 4 + , N-NO 3 − , S-SO 4 2− ). Most of the enzyme activity was higher during 10 weeks of composting in compost I, containing higher amounts of easily available organic matter than in compost II. Enzymatic activities in compost II remained at a higher level for a longer time, but they increased at a slower rate. Mineral content changes in the compost mass consisted primarily of an increase in N-NO 3 − concentration and a decrease in N-NH 4 + and S-SO 4 2− levels, especially in compost I. The concentration of mineral nitrogen and sulfur forms in compost water extracts was about 10–100 times lower than in the compost mass. At the end of composting, the amount of sulfates in the compost mass was 30 and 150 mg kg −1 dw in compost II and I, respectively. In this context, the composts obtained should be considered valuable for fertilizing soils poor in this component and for cultivating plants with high sulfate S demand.

Unveiling the Efficiency of Psychrophillic Aporrectodea caliginosa in Deciphering the Nutrients from Dalweed and Cow Manure with Bio-Optimization of Coprolites

“…The final values of the urease activity across various regardless of the considerable difference in initial N contents and enzyme ac plies that urease activity is a promising indicator of maturity. Similar resu that measuring enzymatic activity and organic matter decomposition can formation about compost maturity [52]…”

Biochemical Evaluation and Maturity Criteria during Fish Waste and Olive Mill Mixed Composting

“…Nitrogen losses are possible, either by nitrate leaching in the case of unprotected composts piles under rainy season, or by volatilization of ammonia (NH3), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Bohacz, J. (2019) found that NH3 volatilization was intensified under alkaline conditions of the composted biomass.…”

“…In the thermophilic stage, the change rate in NH4 + -N correlated to total N was negative but was positively correlated to NO3 --N in all heaps, proving that any decrease in total nitrogen during composting was accompanied by rise in NH4 + formation followed by rise in NO3formation too. Nitrogen metabolism was associated with ammonia volatilization as a result of ammonification activities by microorganisms from the beginning of the composting process as stated by Bohacz, J. (2019).…”

Effect of bacterial inoculation on co-composting of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) waste and cattle manure

“…Co-composting with herbal wastes tends to increase the rate of organic matter (OM) degradation by microorganisms and it often results in improved compost quality with high antipathogenic properties (Zhou et al 2016 , 2018 ). However, the use of herbal residues may at times negatively influence the composting process because an increased lignocellulose content and the remaining secondary metabolites can inhibit nutrient cycling, litter decomposition, and seed germination (Bohacz 2019a ; De Martino et al 2010 ; Guénon et al 2017 ; Shang et al 2016 ; Zhang et al 2019 ). Inoculation of the waste material with specific microbial cultures may stimulate the biological degradation of OM, thus improving final compost quality (Huang et al 2015 ).…”