Monitoring Microbial Numbers, Temperatures, Physical and Chemical Properties during Composting Under Shambat Conditions (Sudan)

Abstract

The study was conducted during the year 2015-2016 to study the variation in microbial diversity (bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes), numbers and their effect on chemical properties (pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon and the ratio of carbon / nitrogen) of compost during maturation under shambat (Sudan) conditions. The study included the preparation of compost and laboratory analysis for the samples, which were taken weekly from compost and measured for physical, chemical and biological properties. The obtained results were as follows: The temperature range was between (29 - 39 °C), pH (7.4 - 8.17), nitrogen (0.4 - 5.0%), phosphorus (0.8 - 5.1 ppm), potassium (46.6 – 84.1%), organic carbon (1.1 to 7.2%), and the carbon / nitrogen ratio (0.4 - 2.0%). Fluctuations in all measured properties were reported during the period of compost maturation. As regarding the biological properties, fungi was dominant during the first month while weak growth was noticed in the rest of the months. Bacterial growth, on the other hand, was very high during all the time taken for compost maturation (four months), and actinomycetes growth was ranging from average to weak. Microbial growth was certainly influenced by the rise and decease in temperature inside the compost pile. These fluctuations in microbial numbers were reflected in the chemical properties of the compost obtained. For example, the rise in temperature was associated with increase in fungal growth, while bacteria and actinomycetes growth was depressed with high pH (7.4 - 8.2). It was noticed also that high growth of bacteria during the period of maturity of the compost was followed by an increase in potassium percentage with a decrease in phosphorus percentage.