Abstract:
Objective Temporal and spatial characteristics of the culturable fungal community in a GORE cover membrane system (GCMS) for composting agricultural waste were analyzed to evaluate and enhance the utilization of the treatment system.
Methods In a GCMS tank fermentation on agriculture waste material, temperature was continuously monitored, and varied temporal and spatial samples collected for microbial determination. Culturable fungi in the system were isolated, identified, and counted for analyzing and calculating spatial distribution pattern index, diversity index, and ecological niche characteristics.
Results The average temperature of the composting material in the tank was 55.27-74.64 ℃ from the 2nd to the 16th day, which was defined as the high temperature period. In the low temperature period from the 17th to the 27th day, the average temperature was 41.26-50.64 ℃. From 72 specimens, 5 species of fungi, i.e., Mortierella walfii, Penicullium sp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus spinosus, and Aspergillus terreus, were isolated and identified. Spatially, the population of A. fumigatus was the largest in both shallow and deep layers of the waste material with the counts of 1.13×105 CFU·g−1 and 1.47×105 CFU·g−1, respectively. Whereas A. aculeatus was the least in the same areas with the counts of 4.90×103 CFU·g−1 and 1.56×103 CFU·g−1, respectively. It indicated differentiated growth adaptabilities of the two fungal populations. Temporally, the total fungal counts were between 4.10×104 CFU·g−1 and 1.30×105 CFU·g−1 in the pre-fermentation period from the 3rd to the 12th day, and between 9.35×103 CFU·g−1 and 2.63×104CFU·g−1 in the post-fermentation period from the 17th to the 27th day. It appeared that the fungal community in the compost changed significantly during the fermentation process with a largely aggregated spatial distribution. A. fumigatus displayed the strongest growth adaptability under GCMS, even though it could be weak in competing with others, or simply because of a lack of competitive counterparts within the system.
Conclusion The count of culturable fungi in GCMS differed significantly in different periods and locations. The spatial distribution of the fungal populations followed an aggregated pattern.