title: Comparison of microbially enhanced compost extracts produced from composted cattle rumen content material and from commercially available inocula.
abstract: A comparative study was performed on compost extracts prepared from cattle rumen content composted for three and nine months, nine month old compost inoculated with a Nutri-Life 4/20™ inoculum, and two commercial preparations (LivingSoil™ and Nutri-Life 4/20™), all incubated for 48h. Nutri-Life 4/20™ had the highest concentrations of NO(3)(-)-N and K(+)-K, while rumen compost extract had higher humic and fulvic acids concentration. The bacterial and fungal community level functional diversity of three month old compost extract and of LivingSoil™, assessed with Biolog™, were higher than that of nine month old rumen compost extract, with or without Nutri-Life 4/20™ inoculum, or Nutri-Life 4/20™. No difference in fungal diversity was observed between treatments, as indicated by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis, however, bacterial diversity was higher in all compost extracts and LivingSoil™ compared to the Nutri-Life 4/20™. Criteria for judging the quality of a microbially enhanced extract are discussed.
authors: Centre for Plant and Water Science (CPWS), Faculty of Science, Engineering and Health, CQUniversity, Rockhampton, 4702 Qld, Australia. k.shrestha@cqu.edu.au
authors: Karuna
authors: K
authors: Shrestha
authors: Eric M
authors: EM
authors: Adetutu
authors: Pramod
authors: P
authors: Shrestha
authors: Kerry B
authors: KB
authors: Walsh
authors: Keith M
authors: KM
authors: Harrower
authors: Andrew S
authors: AS
authors: Ball
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Midmore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D044822:Biodiversity; D002417:Cattle; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012417:Rumen / Q000382:microbiology*; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D012987:Soil