Relating bacterial dynamics and functions to greenhouse gas and odor emissions during facultative heap composting of four kinds of livestock manure

Although facultative heap composting is widely used in small and medium-sized livestock farms in China, there are few studies on greenhouse gas (GHG) and odor emissions from this composting system. This study focused on GHG and odor emissions from facultative heap composting of four types of livestock manure and revealed the relationship between the gaseous emissions and microbial communities. Results showed that pig, sheep, and cow manure reached high compost maturity (germination index (GI) > 70%), whereas chicken manure had higher phytotoxicity (GI = 0.02%) with higher electrical conductivity and a lower carbon/nitrogen ratio. The four manure types significantly differed in the total GHG emission, with the following pattern: pig manure (308 g CO2-eq·kg−1) > cow manure (146 g CO2-eq·kg−1) > chicken manure (136 g CO2-eq·kg−1) > sheep manure (95 g CO2-eq·kg−1). Bacterium with Fermentative, Methanotrophy and Nitrite respiratory functions (e.g. Pseudomonas and Lactobacillus) are enriched within the pile so that more than 90% of the GHGs are produced in the early (days 0–15) and late (days 36–49) composting periods. CO2 contributed more than 90% in the first 35 d, N2O contributed 40–75% in the late composting period, and CH4 contributed less than 8.0%. NH3 and H2S emissions from chicken and pig manure were 4.8 times those from sheep and cow manure. Overall, the gas emissions from facultative heap composting significantly differed among the four manure types due to the significant differences in their physicochemical properties and microbial communities. •The gas emissions differed great among four manure types in facultative heap composting.•Total GHG emissions from chicken, pig, sheep, and cow manure were 136, 308, 95, and 146 g CO2-eq·kg−1.•Greenhouse gases were mostly produced in the early and late composting periods.•CO2 contributed most (≥90%) on Days 0–35, N2O account for 40–75% on days 35–49.•NH3 and H2S emissions from chicken and pig manure were 4.8 times those from sheep and manure.