Metagenomics And Physico-Chemical Analysis of the Active Mesophilic and Mature Phases of a Fast Composting System

Using different combinations of aerobic predigester microflora from different biphasic biogas plants, an optimum compost microflora was obtained. This microflora can fully degrade organic kitchen waste into mature compost in 96 h. To further understand the dynamics of the degradation, several physico-chemical properties, namely pH, temperature, C/N ratio and germination index were studied temporally. It was found that 24–48 h is the microbially most active phase, whereas at 96 h the organic matter is fully degraded. The present microflora did not produce any foul smell during progression of the composting process. To understand the microbial population and its dynamics, V3–V4 region-based 16S rRNA meta-genomic analysis was done for the microbial popula-tion at 24 and 72 h post organic waste addition. It was found that several unique organisms which were never reported in the context of composting are present in this consortium and relative abundance of several organisms changed during the process from 24 to 72 h.