Extreme Processing Conditions Applied in Selection of Different Microorganisms Utilized as Compost Enhancers

Abstract

Present study included isolation of microorganisms during the mesophilic stage of composting and their reuse incompost mixture to enhance organic matter degradation. Effect of microorganism addition on compost degradation wasinvestigated in the presence of microorganisms obtained by isolation from a miniscule composting system. Effects of wateraddition and time of mixing were applied as extreme composting conditions. Isolates were obtained from these systems andinoculated to determine the most resistant microorganisms. 16S rRNA sequencing of selected strains indicated the presenceof Escherichia, Enterococcus and Streptomyces genus. These microorganisms were added to a large-scale compost mixtureto accelerate degradation of organic matter. Results indicated 20 and 38% decreases of organic matter in the sole utilizationof Streptomyces sp. K1P07 and ternary utilization at the end of 14 days. Escherichia and Enterococcus inhibited degradationin the case of binary utilization. Isolation of microorganisms from the original flora of the compost mixture had acceleratedcomposting due to interaction among themselves. Member of Actinomycetes, in particular, was shown to be effective even inthe case of sole utilization. Higher amounts of biomass-oriented wastes could be removed since composting would beterminated in shorter times with the use of these microorganisms.