title: Evaluation of microbially enhanced composting of sophora flavescens residues.
abstract: The effects of inoculants on the composting of Sophora flavescens residues were evaluated based on several physical, chemical and biological parameters, as well as the infrared spectra. Compared to the control compost without inoculants, the treatment compost with inoculants (Bacillus subtilis strain G-13 and Chaetomium thermophilum strain GF-1) had a significantly longer thermophilic duration, higher cellulase activity and a higher degradation rate of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin (P < 0.05). Thus, a higher maturity degree of compost with apparently lower C:N ratio (15.88 vs. 17.77) and NH4-N:NO3-N ratio (0.16 vs. 0.20) was obtained with the inoculation comparing with the control (P < 0.05). Besides, the inoculants could markedly accelerate the composting process and increase the maturity degree of compost as indicated by the germination index (GI) in which the treatment reached the highest GI of 133.2% at day 15 while the control achieved the highest GI of 125.7% at day 30 of the composting. Inoculation with B. subtilis and C. thermophilum is a useful method to enhance the S. flavescens residues composting according to this study.
authors.affiliation: a Research and Development Center of Biorational Pesticides, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Northwest A & F University , Yangling , P. R. China.
authors.forename: Hai B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Research and Development Center of Biorational Pesticides, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Northwest A & F University , Yangling , P. R. China.
authors.forename: Li R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: a Research and Development Center of Biorational Pesticides, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Northwest A & F University , Yangling , P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jun T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: a Research and Development Center of Biorational Pesticides, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Northwest A & F University , Yangling , P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: Bacillus subtilis; Chaetomium thermophilum; Sophora flavescens residues; compost maturity; composting; inoculant; waste treatment