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Correlation between ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms and environmental factors during cattle manure composting
Yu Sun1, Liping Zhu1, Xiuhong Xu1
1College of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
Revista Argentina De Microbiologia
|March 25, 2019
Summary
Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) communities in cattle manure composting were analyzed. Ammonium concentration significantly influenced the succession of both AOB and AOA communities during the process.
Area of Science:
- Microbial Ecology
- Environmental Microbiology
- Biogeochemical Cycles
Background:
- Ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms are crucial for nitrogen cycling during composting.
- Understanding the community dynamics of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) is vital for optimizing composting efficiency.
- Cattle manure composting presents a complex environment influencing microbial community structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the community structure and diversity of AOB and AOA during cattle manure composting.
- To explore the correlation between AOB and AOA communities and key environmental factors.
- To determine the role of ammonium concentration in microbial community succession.
Main Methods:
- Composting of cattle manure in an aerated vessel.
- DNA extraction and PCR-DGGE targeting the ammonia monooxygenase alpha subunit (amoA) gene.
- Analysis of microbial community structure, diversity, and correlation with environmental parameters (temperature, pH, water content, total nitrogen, ammonium, nitrate).
Main Results:
- Predominance of Nitrosomonas spp. among AOB and Candidatus Nitrososphaera gargensis-related sequences among AOA.
- Fluctuating community diversity for both AOB and AOA, with AOA exhibiting a higher Shannon-Wiener index.
- Environmental factors like water content, total nitrogen, ammonium, ammonia, nitrate, and pH significantly correlated with AOB and AOA community structures and diversity. Ammonium concentration was a key driver for community succession.
Conclusions:
- Ammonium concentration, temperature, and total nitrogen significantly impact AOB and AOA community dynamics during cattle manure composting.
- AOA generally showed higher diversity and different succession patterns compared to AOB.
- Optimizing composting conditions, particularly managing ammonium levels, can influence the functional microbial communities involved in nitrogen transformation.
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