An inoculum containing lignocellulolytic microbial consortium WCS-6, Trichoderma harzianum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were applied to a mixture of cow manure and corn stalk (1:1). A number of composting parameters were monitored under low temperature condition (below 10 oC). It was found that the temperature reached the thermophilic phase (over 45 oC) quickly within 2 days and remained above 50 oC for about 10 days for inoculated treatment. Inoculation can significantly increase the TN, TP, TK and available potassium contents, and promote the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass. We found that the C/N ratios and GI changed rapidly at the beginning of the compost. The C/N ratio reached 18.5 on the 35th day and the GI was 83.4% at the end of the process for inoculation. Therefore, inoculation by microbial consortium would be effective in the composting process at low ambient temperature.
Cow manure, Inocula, Lignocellulolytic microbial consortium,
Low temperature, Windrow composting.
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