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Performance and microbial community dynamics during rice straw composting using urea or protein hydrolysate as a
Xiao-Xing Li1, Shi-Peng Wang1, Zhao-Yong Sun1
1College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, China.
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|September 8, 2021
Summary
Protein hydrolysate from leather waste (PHL) enhances rice straw (RS) composting more effectively than urea. PHL addition accelerates microbial succession and improves compost quality, offering a sustainable recycling solution for agricultural waste.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Rice straw (RS) recycling via aerobic composting requires an effective nitrogen source.
- Optimizing nitrogen supplementation is crucial for efficient composting and waste management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of protein hydrolysate from leather waste (PHL) versus urea as nitrogen sources in aerobic rice straw composting.
- To investigate the impact of these nitrogen sources on composting performance and microbial community dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Aerobic composting of rice straw with either urea or PHL as the nitrogen source.
- Monitoring of physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, nutrients) and volatile solid degradation.
- Analysis of bacterial community composition and succession using high-throughput sequencing.
- Evaluation of compost maturity and quality through germination index tests.
Main Results:
- PHL addition resulted in a faster initial temperature increase (1.85 ℃·h-1) compared to urea (1.07 ℃·h-1).
- PHL led to higher volatile solid degradation (48.04%) and improved compost quality, indicated by a greater germination index (111.72%).
- While both treatments showed similar bacterial phyla (Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria), PHL accelerated microbial community succession.
Conclusions:
- Protein hydrolysate from leather waste is a superior nitrogen source for aerobic rice straw composting compared to urea.
- PHL enhances composting efficiency, accelerates microbial community development, and improves the final compost product quality.
- This study highlights the potential of utilizing leather waste-derived protein hydrolysate for sustainable agricultural waste management.
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