Effects of micro-positive pressure environment on nitrogen conservation and humification enhancement during functional membrane-covered aerobic composting

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 864; p. 161065
• Main Authors: Xiong, Jinpeng, Su, Ya, Qu, Huiwen, Han, Lujia, He, Xueqin, Guo, Jianbin, Huang, Guangqun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.03.2023
• Subjects: Bioavailable organic nitrogen; Composting; Functional membrane-covered aerobic composting; Fungal community; Fungi; FUNGuild; Humic substances; Humic Substances - analysis; Manure; Nitrogen - analysis; Soil; Temperature; Bioavailable organic nitrogen; Fungal community; Functional membrane-covered aerobic composting; FUNGuild; Humic substances
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161065

Aerobic composting is a humification process accompanied by nitrogen loss. This study is the first research systematically investigating and elucidating the mechanism by which functional membrane-covered aerobic composting (FMCAC) reduces nitrogen loss and enhances humification. The variations in bioavailable organic nitrogen (BON) and humic substances (HSs) in different composting systems were quantitatively studied, and the functional succession patterns of fungal groups were determined by high-throughput sequencing and FUNGuild. The FMCAC improved oxygen utilization and pile temperature, increased BON by 29.95 %, reduced nitrogen loss by 34.00 %, and enhanced humification by 26.09 %. Meanwhile, the FMCAC increased the competitive advantage of undefined saprotroph and significantly reduced potential pathogenic fungi (<0.10 %). Structural equation modeling indicated that undefined saprotroph facilitated the humification process by increasing the production of BON and storing BON in stable humic acid. Overall, the FMCAC increased the safety, stability, and quality of the final compost product. [Display omitted] •Membrane-covered composting (MCC) increased O2 utilization and promoted fermentation.•MCC strongly affected the functional succession patterns of the fungal communities.•MCC increased bioavailable organic N by 29.95 % and reduced N losses by 34.00 %.•MCC reduced pathogenic fungi (<0.10 %) and enhanced humification by 26.09 %.