title: Earthworms facilitate the stabilization of pelletized dewatered sludge through shaping microbial biomass and activity and community.
abstract: In this study, the effect of earthworms on microbial features during vermicomposting of pelletized dewatered sludge (PDS) was investigated through comparing two degradation systems with and without earthworm E isenia fetida involvement. After 60 days of experimentation, a relatively stable product with low organic matter and high nitrate and phosphorous was harvested when the earthworms were involved. During the process, earthworms could enhance microbial activity and biomass at the initial stage and thus accelerating the rapid decomposition of PDS. The end products of vermicomposting allowed the lower values of bacterial and eukaryotic densities comparison with those of no earthworm addition. In addition, the presence of earthworms modified the bacterial and fungal diversity, making the disappearances of some pathogens and specific decomposing bacteria of recalcitrant substrates in the vermicomposting process. This study evidences that earthworms can facilitate the stabilization of PDS through modifying microbial activity and number and community during vermicomposting.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070, China. fuxiaoyong7362@foxmail.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoyong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
authors.forename: Guangyu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070, China. huangk1199@hotmail.com.|River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan. huangk1199@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Kui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
authors.forename: Xuemin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: Fusheng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D012722:Sewage; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D010758:Phosphorus
keywords: Earthworms; Microbial community; Pelletized dewatered sludge; Sludge recycling; Vermicomposting