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Bacterial Community Structure and Metabolic Function Succession During the Composting of Distilled Grain Waste

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Abstract

Distilled grain waste (DGW) can be converted to organic fertilizer via aerobic composting process without inoculating exogenous microorganisms. To illustrate the material conversion mechanism, this study investigated the dynamic changes of bacterial community structure and metabolic function involved in DGW composting. Results showed that a significant increase in microbial community alpha diversity was observed during DGW composting. Moreover, unique community structures occurred at each composting stage. The dominant phyla were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, Myxococcota, and Chloroflexi, whose abundance varied according to different composting stages. Keystone microbes can be selected as biomarkers for each stage, and Microbispora, Chryseolinea, Steroidobacter, Truepera, and Luteimonas indicating compost maturity. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed a significant relationship between keystone microbes and environmental factors. The carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism were confirmed as the primary metabolic pathways by metabolic function profiles. Furthermore, nitrogen metabolism pathway analysis indicated that denitrification and NH3 volatilization induced higher nitrogen loss during DGW composting. This study can provide new understanding of the microbiota for organic matter and nitrogen conversion in the composting process of DGW.

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Funding

This research was funded by the Key Laboratory of Wuliangye-flavor Liquor Solid-state Fermentation, China National Light Industry (2021JJ002), the Solid-state Fermentation Resource Utilization Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province (2018GTY005), and the Graduate Student’s Research and Innovation Fund of Sichuan University (2012017yjsy165).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, No. 24 South Section 1 First Ring Road, Chengdu, 610065, China

    Shi-Peng Wang, Zhao-Yong Sun, Zi-Yuan Xia, Yue-Qin Tang & Kenji Kida

  2. Luzhou Laojiao Co., Ltd., Luzhou, 646000, China

    Song-Tao Wang & Cai-Hong Shen

  3. Solid-State Fermentation Resource Utilization Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Yibin University, Yibin, 644000, China

    Hua-Wei Yuan

  4. Key Laboratory of Wuliangye-Flavor Liquor Solid-State Fermentation, China National Light Industry, Yibin, 644007, China

    Ming-Zhe An

Authors
  1. Shi-Peng Wang
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Contributions

Conceptualization: S.P. Wang, Z.Y. Sun; methodology and investigation: S.P. Wang; data curation: S.P. Wang, Z.Y. Sun, S.T. Wang; visualization: S.P. Wang, S.T. Wang, H.W. Yuan; writing—original draft: S.P. Wang; formal analysis: S.T. Wang, H.W. Yuan, M.Z. An; validation: S.T. Wang, Z.Y. Xia; funding acquisition: Z.Y. Sun, H.W. Yuan, M.Z. An; writing—review and editing: Z.Y. Sun, Z.Y. Xia, Y.Q. Tang, C.H. Shen, K. Kida; project administration: Y.Q. Tang, C.H. Shen, K. Kida.

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Correspondence to Zhao-Yong Sun.

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Highlights

1. Bacterial community dynamics is involved in distilled grain waste composting.

2. Unique community structures and keystone microbes are present at different stages.

3. Keystone microbes and environmental factors exhibited significant relationship.

4. Carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism were the primary metabolic pathways.

5. Denitrification and NH3 volatilization caused higher nitrogen loss.

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Wang, SP., Sun, ZY., Wang, ST. et al. Bacterial Community Structure and Metabolic Function Succession During the Composting of Distilled Grain Waste. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 194, 1479–1495 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-021-03731-5

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