[Effects of microbial inoculation on composting in a bioreactor].

A composting experiment with chicken manure was carried out in a lab-scaled bioreactor to study the effects of microbial inoculation (a single Bacillus megaterium and a compound VT agent) on the changes of the temperature, oxygen concentration, C/N ratio, WSC (water-soluble carbon), germination index (GI), and cellulase and dehydrogenase activity. The results showed that the use of compound VT agent was more effective in the growing of starting temperature and maintaining of the high-temperature during composting than the single Bacillus megaterium treatment. The oxygen concentration in the composting with inoculation (both Bacillus megaterium and VT) was lower than that of the composting without inoculation. Meanwhile, the inoculation with compound microbial inocula (VT) showed lower of C/N ratio, higher WSC concentration and higher GI in the compost than that of the individual microbial inoculation. Furtherly, microbial inoculation could increase the cellulase activity and dehydrogenase activity in the composting process and promote the decomposition of cellulose during the composting.