Organic matter stabilization and phosphorus activation during vegetable waste composting: Multivariate and multiscale investigation

The conversion of organic matter and P in the waste composting process affects the efficiency of the composted product. However, the addition of microbial inoculants may improve the conversion characteristics of organic matter and P. In this study, straw-decomposing microbial inoculant (SDMI) was added to investigate its effects on the organic matter stabilization and phosphorus activation during the composting of vegetable waste (VWs). Aliphatic carboxyl-containing compounds were degraded during composting, but the stability of the organic matter and P was improved. The addition of SDMI promoted the degradation of dissolved organic carbon by 81.7 % and improved P stability and thermal stability of organic matter. Hedley sequential P fractionation showed a decrease in the H2O-P proportion by >12 % and increased in the HCl-P proportion by >4 % by the end of composting. Stable forms of P, such as AlPO4 and iron-containing phosphate, were the main forms of P in the final compost. The results provide a basis for producing high-quality vegetable compost products and improving the reutilization potential of VWs.