118

8 Microbes and their Consortia as Essential Additives for the Composting of Solid Waste

Table 8.1

(Continued)

Compost

feedstock

Additives

Results

References

Bacillus licheniformis 2D55

Increase in CMCase and FPase

production

[31]

Consortia of beneficial microbes

like N-fixers, P-solubilizers, or

K-mobilizers and biocontrol

agents.

Achieved value-added compost

for direct application for crop

production.

[32]

Actinomycetes

Increase in nitrogen content and

a drop in carbon and organic

matter in compost.

[33]

Trichoderma species and

cellulase degrader mixed culture

coded as AMB1

Increased cellulase activity by

consortia and 50% reduction of

hemicelluloses content in rice

straw.

[34]

decreased the C/N ratio in four treatment piles 1–4 from 36.12 to 17.12, 31.43 to

17.52, 31.49 to 19.47, and 34.54 to 26.18, respectively, on the 35th day of composting

[28]. However, lignocellulosic microbes when inoculated during waste composting

were not as effective as expected in small-scale composting.

A modified drum composting conducted to verify the effect of microbial additives

and natural air circulation on FW resulted in a mature compost after 60 days [10].

Microbial inoculation to FW fairly paced up the degradation process and achieved a

fairly higher temperature with an early maturity. An enhanced degradation rate, bet-

ter humification, and reduction in odors were shown with the addition of microbiota

to the organics. In another study, when an inoculum of thermo-tolerant lipolytic

microbes was added to FW, results indicated better decomposition of organic matter

in lesser time suggesting good composting. A 60-day FW composting under opti-

mized pH and temperature, wherein a consortium of Pseudomonas sp., T. viride,

and Trichoderma sp. was added, showed an accelerated degradation rate. Further-

more, waste volume reduction with total decolorization of fruit waste was observed

in the microbe-amended composting with fine good grade compost. FW (rabbit food

and cooked rice) when composted with acid-degrading yeast (mesophilic) at pre-

set temperature for different time periods developed a well-stabilized compost. An

improved conversion rate of FW into compost was further observed as a result of

inoculated effective microbes at day 45 of composting [10]. To sum up, FW and

MSW degradation through vital microbial additives is highly significant and rele-

vant, especially in terms of reduced process time and other benefits like no foul odor

and pathogen-free compost.

Regarding AW, cocktail of AW and microbes turned out to be a better alternative

for waste composting and it was efficient with cellulase production. It was found

that a concoction of untreated sugarcane bagasse and pretreated rice husk inoc-

ulated with Bacillus licheniformis 2D55 showed enhanced degradation which is