Improved co-composting of poultry manure with complementary consortium of indigenous Bacillus spp

Three efficient Bacillus species selected among the 55 indigenous isolates from poultry manure (PM) were used for the development of a rapid and efficient composting process. The biochemical and 16sr RNA sequence analyses identified the isolates as Bacillus flexus (B-07), B. cereus (B-41) and B. subtilis (B-54). Collectively, the consortium has the ability of cellulolysis, keratinolysis, ammonia oxidation, nitrite oxidation and P solubilization for composting PM along with carbon amendments. The efficacy of composting with rice husk or sawdust with the consortium (10⁹ CFU/ml) was tested. The biochemical and microbiological profiles showed that the efficacy of compost with sawdust along with consortium was better when compared to rice husk, resulting in the development of a rapid and single cycle of composting in 30 days. The resultant compost in pot trials enhanced the yield of the pulse crop, Vigna radiata to 78% and the oilseed crop, Sesamum indicum to 45% when compared to the addition of chemical fertilizers.