Biochar influences the microbial community structure during manure composting with agricultural wastes

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2012-02, Vol.416, p.476-481
• Main Authors: Jindo, Keiji, Sánchez-Monedero, Miguel A., Hernández, Teresa, García, Carlos, Furukawa, Toru, Matsumoto, Kazuhiro, Sonoki, Tomonori, Bastida, Felipe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture, rearing and food industries wastes; Animals; Applied sciences; Biochar; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of gaseous effluents; Biotechnology; Cattle; Charcoal - metabolism; Composting; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Fatty Acids - analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Manure - analysis; Manure - microbiology; Microbial community; Phospholipid fatty acids; Phospholipids - analysis; Pollution; Poultry; Quercus; Soil - analysis; Soil Microbiology; Time Factors; Wastes
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.12.009

The influence of biochar derived from a hardwood tree (Quercus serrate Murray) on the dynamics of the microbial community during the composting of poultry manure (PM) and cow manure (CM) was evaluated by phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFAs). Changes in the PLFA patterns were related to key composting properties (C/N ratio, temperature, and bulk density) as the major drivers of the dynamics of the microbial community. At the beginning of the process, the fungal biomass was significantly greater in PM and CM than in the respective co-composted materials with biochar (PMB and CMB); this difference declined gradually during the process. In contrast, the Gram+ to Gram− ratio was increased by the presence of biochar. After 12weeks of composting, factor analysis based on the relative abundances of single PLFAs revealed changes in the microbial community structure which depended on the original organic wastes (CM vs PM). ► The influence of biochar on the community during composting evaluated by PLFAs. ► Changes in the microbial community structure related to physic-chemical changes. ► Microbial community structure changed after 12 weeks of composting with biochar. ► Changes in the community depended on the origin of manure composted with biochar.