The Dynamic Changes of Nutrient and Microbial Succession in Nanomembrane Aerobic Composting of Tomato Straw

As the demand for sustainable agriculture grows, the use of agricultural by-products for organic fertilizer production has garnered substantial attention. This study investigates the nutrient dynamics and microbial diversity during the composting of tomato straw using nanomembrane aerobic composting and conventional composting methods. Over 28 days, we measured temperature, pH, moisture, electrical conductivity, and nutrient levels. The results indicate that nanomembrane aerobic composting achieved a higher initial temperature, thereby accelerating the decomposition of organic matter and promoting nutrient conversion. The nanomembrane treatment maintained higher organic carbon content and increased total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium relative to conventional composting. Microbial profiling revealed marked differences in fungal diversity between treatments. Key fungal phyla were more abundant in nanomembrane compost, suggesting enhanced microbial activity. In contrast, bacteria were undetectable on the third day of fermentation, raising questions about their role in the middle and late stages of composting. This study demonstrates that nanomembrane aerobic composting can enhance composting efficiency and organic fertilizer quality by optimizing environmental conditions and promoting microbial activity. Nanomembrane aerobic composting promotes a more controlled succession of fungal communities, which may play a crucial role in the fermentation process. It is noteworthy that during the composting process, bacteria gradually became undetectable as fermentation progressed, whereas fungi were consistently present throughout the experiment. It might suggest to the researchers that fungi, rather than bacteria, may play a more significant role in the fermentation process of organic fertilizers.