Efficient lignocellulose degradation during rice straw composting with native effective microorganisms and chicken manure

Every year, many agricultural wastes such as rice straw are produced in different countries that need to be managed and converted into valuable materials. The present study was planned to design a bioprocess for fast production of enriched biocompost from rice straw (RS) as an available lignocellulosic biomass. Three native bacterial strains (MC: 10 7 cells/gram RS), chicken manure (CM), and vinasse were used as starter cultures and accelerators, respectively. The research was conducted in a completely randomized design with five treatments (each 18 kg) in insulated composters. The treatments included RS as control; RS and chicken manure (CM) (T1); RS, CM, and microbial cocktail (MC) (T2); RS, CM, vinasse, and MC (T3); and RS, vinasse, and MC (T4). Treatment T2 showed maximum changes in bulk density, color, odor, pH, EC, and temperature increase (55 °C). Significant reduction of C/N and NH 4 + /NO 3 − (36%) ratios and a maximum increase of nutrient content were observed for T2. In the supplementary experiment that followed, application of T2 (5% w/w) showed significant effects on wheat growth factors, including plant height (47.11 cm), leaf area (15.35 cm 2 ), fresh weight (3.18 g), dry weight (0.57 g), and special leaf area. The use of native effective microorganisms and chicken manure enhanced efficient lignocellulose degradation, reduced the composting process time, and increased the quality of the compost from RS.