Enhancing Cow Manure Composting via Staged Inoculation of Functional Microbial Consortia

Huanyao Li¹Weimin Zeng^1*Jin Huang^1*Shiyong Tan²

• ¹School of Minerals and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
• ²Hunan Tevos Ecological Technology Co., Ltd, Changsha, China

Aerobic composting of cattle manure often suffers from an extended duration and a low degree of humification. This study aimed to address these limitations by employing a staged inoculation strategy with specifically designed functional microbial consortia to regulate microbial succession and enhance composting efficiency. Using cow manure and rice straw as substrates, four treatments were established: a control without inoculant (W), staged addition of a commercial EM inoculant (EM), a single dose of a composite inoculant at the beginning (TF), and staged addition of targeted phase-specific consortia (YF) screened from indigenous composting microorganisms. Results demonstrated that the YF treatment achieved the longest thermophilic phase (≥50°C, 11 days) and the highest peak temperature (62.87°C). Notably, the YF group exhibited significantly elevated levels of humic substances (122.02 g/kg; +24.72%) and humic acid (92.32 g/kg; +35.81%) compared to the control. The humification rate and index increased by 37.65% and 35.81%, respectively. Furthermore, the YF treatment retained the highest total nitrogen content (19.20 g/kg), reduced nitrogen loss, and achieved a seed germination index of 90.63%, indicating superior maturity and the lowest phytotoxicity. Staged inoculation with targeted consortia effectively modulated the microbial community succession, favoring lignocellulose degradation and humus synthesis. This study provides a novel and efficient strategy for optimizing the composting process via phase-synchronized microbial management, offering significant potential for enhancing agricultural waste recycling and compost quality.