Effect of aeration/micro-aeration on lignocellulosic decomposition, maturity and seedling phytotoxicity during full-scale biogas residues composting

[Display omitted] •Both aeration and micro-aeration could result in high-quality compost products.•Micro-aeration was resultful in nutrition saving and composting process.•Aeration concentration should be regulated at different composting stages.•TOC, NH4+-N, NO3–-N, and GI could be used to evaluate full-scale compost maturity.•Seedling index was credible but still needed to monitor composting quality fully. With the accelerated construction of biogas plants, the amount of biogas residues are expanding. Composting has been widely implemented to deal with biogas residues. Aeration regulation is the main factor affecting the post-composting treatment of biogas residues as high-quality fertilizer or soil amendment. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of different aeration regulations on full-scale biogas residues compost maturity by controlling oxygen concentration under micro-aeration and aeration conditions. Results showed that micro-aerobic extended the thermophilic stage of 17 days at above 55 ℃ and facilitated the mineralization process of organic nitrogen into nitrate nitrogen to retain higher N nutrition levels compared to aerobic treatment. For biogas residues with high moisture, aeration should be regulated at different full-scale composting stages. Total organic carbon (TOC), NH4+-N, NO3–-N, total potassium (TK), total phosphorus (TP) and the germination index (GI) could be used to evaluate stabilization, fertilizer efficiency and phytotoxicity of compost with frequent monitoring times. However, seedling growth trials were still necessary in full-scale composting plants when changing of composting process or biogas residues feedstock.