Microbial C and N dynamics during composting process of urban solid waste.
Microbial characterization of composting is of importance for the optimization of the process and the quality of the end product. The aim of this work was to follow microbial biomass C and N dynamics during the composting process of urban solid waste. Microbial biomass C (B(C)) ranged from 4.06 to 1 microg kg(-1) of dry compost from day 5 to day 62 and decreased to reach 0.44 mg kg(-1) in mature compost. Microbial biomass N (B(N)) showed the same trend as B(C), ranging from 1.472 to 0.443 microg kg(-1) of dry compost from day 5 to day 62. This behaviour is probably related to the decreasing availability of readily decomposable substrates with the ongoing of the process. B(C) and B(N) showed a strong correlation (r = 0.78). The dynamics of the B(C)/B(N) ratio, index of the chemical composition of the whole microbial population suggested a shift in the composition of microbial populations during the process from prevailing bacteria and actinomycetes to prevailing fungi.
Ben Ayed
Layla
L
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique, Hammam Lif, Tunisia. benayedlayla@yahoo.fr
Hassen
Abdennaceur
A
Jedidi
Naceur
N
Saidi
Neila
N
Bouzaiane
Olfa
O
Murano
Fumio
F
D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D002947:Cities; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D014416:Tunisia
D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen