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A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
Composite microbial inoculants regulate community assembly to reduce nitrogen loss during biodrying-composting
Yingjie Liu1, Haimin Li1, Wanting Li1
1College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Organic Recycling Research Institute (Suzhou) of China Agricultural University, Suzhou 215100, China.
Environmental Research
|August 14, 2026
Summary
A novel composite microbial inoculant (CMI), WH2, significantly enhances biodrying-composting (BC) efficiency and nitrogen retention. WH2 promotes beneficial microbial communities and reduces nitrogen loss, offering a sustainable solution for waste management.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Waste Management Technologies
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Composite microbial inoculants (CMI) are known to improve composting efficiency and minimize nitrogen loss.
- The specific microbial mechanisms, community assembly, and functional regulation of CMIs during biodrying-composting (BC) remain insufficiently understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a self-developed CMI, WH2, compared to commercial inoculants (VJ, VT1000, SKH) on the BC process.
- To elucidate the microbial community assembly and functional regulation mechanisms influenced by WH2 during BC.
- To assess the impact of WH2 on composting efficiency, nitrogen loss, and the quality of the final compost.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of four CMIs (WH2, VJ, VT1000, SKH) in the BC process, including a control group (CK).
- Assessment of composting efficiency metrics: moisture removal rate, volatile solids degradation rate, and seed germination index.
- Microbial community analysis using neutral community model (NCM) and null model.
- Gene abundance analysis (nirS) and PICRUSt2 prediction for functional insights.
Main Results:
- All tested CMIs improved composting efficiency and community assembly, with WH2 showing superior performance in moisture removal (60.57%), volatile solids degradation (37.67%), and seed germination index (110.77%).
- WH2 significantly reduced total nitrogen loss by 19% compared to the control, comparable to the best commercial inoculant.
- Microbial analysis revealed that stochastic processes dominated WH2's community assembly (80%), enriching key genera (Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Saccharomonospora) and reducing denitrification potential indicated by lower nirS gene abundance.
Conclusions:
- The self-developed CMI, WH2, demonstrates superior efficacy in enhancing biodrying-composting efficiency and nitrogen retention.
- WH2's effectiveness is linked to its ability to shape stochastic microbial community assembly and enrich key functional taxa.
- WH2 presents a promising microbial solution for sustainable kitchen waste utilization, improving composting outcomes and reducing environmental nitrogen losses.
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