Microbial Mechanisms of Promoting Humification and Carbon-Nitrogen Transformation of Sheep Manure Composting under Functional Membrane Covering

doi:10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0969

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective This study aims to investigate the effects of membrane-covered aerobic composting technology on the biotransformation of carbon and nitrogen during sheep manure composting on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Method Two treatment groups were established: the functional membrane covering group (FM) and the blank control group (CK). Composting fermentation was conducted on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau over a 30-day period. Changes in carbon and nitrogen components—including lignocellulose, humic acid, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and nitrite nitrogen—were monitored throughout the process. Additionally, metagenomic analysis was employed to identify the functional genes and microbial communities involved in carbon and nitrogen transformation, thereby elucidating the mechanisms through which functional membrane covering influences biotransformation processes. Result FM accelerated the composting heating phase, extended the duration of the thermophilic stage, and significantly improved the germination index of the final compost product by 14.9% (P<0.05). FM significantly reduced the cellulose and hemicellulose contents in the compost by 8.77% and 7.88%, respectively (P<0.05), while increasing humic acid content by 20.0% (P<0.001). Furthermore, FM enhanced nitrogen retention, significantly increasing the contents of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and nitrite nitrogen by 10.6%, 20.0%, and 16.4%, respectively (P<0.05). Organic carbon oxidation was identified as the dominant pathway for carbon transformation. Functional genes associated with lignocellulose degradation were more abundant in the FM group than in the CK group, which can enhance lignocellulose degradation under membrane covering. Conversely, genes involved in fermentation and methane production were more prevalent in CK. Regarding nitrogen transformation, nitrate reduction was the primary pathway during the early composting stage, while nitrite ammonification dominated in the later stage. The FM group exhibited higher abundances of genes involved in nitrate reduction and nitrite ammonification throughout the composting process compared to CK, whereas it showed lower abundances in the pathways of nitrite reduction, nitric oxide reduction, and nitrous oxide reduction. Conclusion The use of functional membrane can effectively promote the maturation of sheep manure compost on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, can enhance organic carbon oxidation, facilitate lignocellulose degradation and humic acid synthesis, and can reduce nitrogen loss by suppressing denitrification and promoting nitrite ammonification.

Key words: membrane-covered aerobic composting technology, sheep manure, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, carbon conversion, nitrogen conversion, microbial action mechanism

LI Rong-rong, CAI Rui. Microbial Mechanisms of Promoting Humification and Carbon-Nitrogen Transformation of Sheep Manure Composting under Functional Membrane Covering[J]. Biotechnology Bulletin, 2026, 42(10): 293-304.

Figures/Tables 7

Fig. 1 Changes in basic physical and chemical indicators during the composting process

Fig. 2 Changes in carbon composition during the composting process

Fig. 3 Changes in nitrogen components during the composting process

Fig. 4 Changes in the abundance of function genes of carbon conversion

Fig. 5 Changes in the abundance of function genes of nitrogen conversion

Fig. 6 Changes in the contribution of functional microorganisms of carbon conversion

Fig. 7 Changes in the contribution of functional microorganisms of nitrogen conversion

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