Isolation and identification of fungal communities in compost and vermicompost

Abstract

This research illustrates the qualitative and quantitative composition of the mycoflora of both a green compost (thermophilically produced from plant debris) and a vermicompost (mesophilically produced by the action of earthworms on plant and animal wastes after thermophilic preconditioning). Fungi were isolated using three media (PDA, CMC, PDA plus cycloheximide), incubated at three temperatures (24, 37 and 45 C). Substantial qualiquantitative differences in the species composition of the two composts were observed. The total fungal load was up to 8.2 X 10(5) CFU/g dwt in compost and 4.0 x 10(5) CFU/g dwt in vermicompost. A total of 194 entities were isolated: 118 from green compost, 142 from vermicompost; 66 were common to both. Structural characterization of this kind is necessary to determine the most appropriate application of a compost and its hygienic quality.

The earthworm species Metaphire posthuma modulates the effect of organic amendments (compost vs. vermicompost from buffalo manure) on soil microbial properties. A laboratory experiment

“…These studies indicate that the bacterial community structure in vermicompost considerably differs from that in analogous composts. Vermicomposts are usually more stable than composts, with higher availability of nutrients and improved microbiological properties [5,51,61,63]. In our study, vermicompost was characterized by lower C and higher N content in comparison with the compost substrate (see Material and Method).…”

Microbial Anaerobic Digestion (Bio-Digesters) as an Approach to the Decontamination of Animal Wastes in Pollution Control and the Generation of Renewable Energy

“…The primary types of commercial composting methods are windrow, aerated static pile, and vermicomposting. Although vermiculture does not inherently include a thermophilic phase [3,4], material can be pre-composted through aerated static piles and windrow to remove substances toxic to earthworms, inactivate plant seeds and remove human and plant pathogens. Generally, we have a poor understanding of the biological dynamics that occur during the composting process and there are no current regulations or guidelines that define desirable microbiological properties of compost.…”

Humusica 2, article 16: Techno humus systems and recycling of waste

“…Scientists call this phenomenon "priming effect" (Guenet et al, 2010). The decomposer living network is still partially understood and under investigation (Straatsma et al, 1994;Anastasi et al, 2005;Jayasinghe and Parkinson, 2009;Mummey et al, 2010;Burns et al, 2013;Lange et al, 2015;Ballhausen and de Boer, 2016;Geisen et al, 2016); • During the process of respiration about 2/3 of the C content of organic remains is lost in the atmosphere as CO 2 and 1/3 incorporated in new microorganisms. If the C/N ratio of organic remains is ≤ 30, and if all N can be incorporated in new microbial structures (McDowell and Clark-McDowell, 2008), the process of biodegradation can go on fast and well until the complete utilisation of the organic remains.…”