Nitrogen Transformation Mechanisms and Compost Quality Assessment in Sustainable Mesophilic Aerobic Composting of Agricultural Waste

Lin Zhao (), Yuhan Huang, Xue Ran, Yuwei Xu, Yuanyuan Chen, Chuansheng Wu and Jun Tang
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Lin Zhao: Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Damage and Biological Control for Huaihe River Basin, College of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, China
Yuhan Huang: Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Damage and Biological Control for Huaihe River Basin, College of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, China
Xue Ran: Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Damage and Biological Control for Huaihe River Basin, College of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, China
Yuwei Xu: Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Damage and Biological Control for Huaihe River Basin, College of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, China
Yuanyuan Chen: Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Damage and Biological Control for Huaihe River Basin, College of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, China
Chuansheng Wu: Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Damage and Biological Control for Huaihe River Basin, College of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, China
Jun Tang: Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Damage and Biological Control for Huaihe River Basin, College of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: This study examines nitrogen transformation mechanisms and compost quality in mesophilic aerobic composting of wheat straw, utilizing cow manure as a co-substrate to promote sustainable agricultural waste management. Two composting systems were established: group A (control) and group B (10% cow manure addition by wet weight). The addition of cow manure accelerated early organic matter decomposition and increased total nitrogen retention in group B. Nitrogen losses occurred primarily via ammonia volatilization during the initial and final composting stages, while functional gene analysis revealed enhanced ammonification and nitrification in both systems. Microbial community analysis showed that cow manure addition promoted nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the early phase and fungi associated with complex organic degradation in later stages. These findings underscore the potential of cow manure to enhance compost maturity, improve nitrogen efficiency, and support the development of sustainable composting practices that contribute to resource conservation.

Keywords: microbial community structure; nitrogen loss; nitrogen metabolism; sustainable development; wheat straw (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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