Alkaline phosphomonoesterase-harboring bacteria facilitate phosphorus availability during winter composting with different animal manures

Scientific understanding of ecological role of alkaline phosphomonoesterase (phoD)-harboring bacteria in phosphorus availability is lacking during composting. To explore ecological functions of phoD-harboring bacteria and differences in compost properties among four animal (i.e., pig, chicken, cow, and sheep) manure groups, we conducted small-scale composting and applied Illumina MiSeq sequencing and multiple statistical analyses. Results displayed notably shifts in compost abiotic and biotic properties, and phoD-harboring bacteria in the pig manure group showed larger compositional differences, weaker community replacement, more complex coex-istence patterns, and stronger environmental constraints than other manure groups. The temperature-affected phoD-harboring bacterial community directly and indirectly shapes compost phosphorus availability, and available phosphorus in the final compost was notably higher in pig manure (1.04 g kg -1) group than other groups (0.61-0.78 g kg -1). Our findings highlight important ecological roles of phoD-harboring bacteria in phosphorus availability during winter composting, and disentangle that pig manure is superior to other manures for composting. These findings might guide small-scale manure composting, and the final compost can serve as biological phosphorus fertilizer.

Automated summary

In this study, we explored the ecological functions of phoD-harboring bacteria and differences in compost properties among four animal manure groups through small-scale composting and sequencing analysis. The results showed significant compositional differences, complex coexistence patterns, and strong environmental constraints in the phoD-harboring bacteria community of the pig manure group compared to other groups. The temperature-affected phoD-harboring bacterial community directly and indirectly influenced compost phosphorus availability, and the pig manure group had notably higher available phosphorus content in the final compost. These findings have important implications for guiding small-scale manure composting and utilizing compost as biological phosphorus fertilizer.