Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 3
Lignocellulose Biodegradation in Composting
Martin A. Hubbe
Abstract Plant-derived material, i.e., lignocellulosic biomass, makes up a major
proportion of the initial mass in a typical composting operation. Such biomass
plays some key roles as the mixture is being converted to prepare a useful soil
amendment. For instance, the lignocellulosic component can provide bulking,
can help to balance the C:N elemental composition, and serves as the main source
of energy for the bacterial processes that go on during composting. This chapter
reviews recent research helping to clarify these roles and to explain the under-
lying mechanisms. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of bacterial
communities, as well as the succession in the composition of those communities
during the different thermal phases of composting. Progress also has been made in
understanding the flows of heat resulting from metabolism, aeration, and chemi-
cal changes in the compost mixture. Advances have been reported in the chemi-
cal analysis of compost, revealing details of chemical transformations occurring
during the decomposition and stabilization of compost. The lignin component in
a compostable mixture provides chemical building blocks that give rise to humic
acids and other substances that resist further biodegradation and allow mature
compost to retain water and bind minerals. Based on the literature one can con-
clude that composting, especially when lignocellulosic materials are employed
under suitable conditions, is an environmentally responsible, relatively mature
technology that can be expected to receive increasing research attention in the
future.
Keywords Bacterial communities · Aeration · C:N ratio · Compost pile ·
Detoxification
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