Characterization of lignocellulosic compositions' degradation during chicken manure composting with added biochar by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and correlation analysis

- PLFA reflects microbial community succession and lignocellulose degradation well.
- PLFA helps mechanism exploration for chicken manure composting with added biochar.
- Good correlation is found between lignocellulose degradation ratio and PLFA.
- Models based on PLFA18:2ω6c-18:3ω3 can estimate lignocellulose degradation.

Biorefractory high polymer lignocellulosic compositions may limit rapid composting and stable decomposition. Because their degradation during composting is not well understood, the correlation with microbial community profiles was assessed to reveal degradation mechanism of lignocellulosic compositions. Testing of chicken manure aerobic composting with added biochar was performed using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and correlation analysis. Results demonstrated a good composting effect with good dynamic correlation between microbial characteristic (PLFA) and lignocellulosic compositions' degradation ratio. The prediction model for hemicellulose degradation ratio (R2 = 0.97, SEP = 3.24) and the prediction model for cellulose degradation ratio (R3 = 0.94, SEP = 3.09), built using PLFA 16:0-18:2ω6c and PLFA 18:2ω6c-18:3ω3 as the arguments had good predictive ability. Based on microbial analysis and quantitative characterization of the degradation ratio, the prediction models provided methodological support for delineating the mechanism of lignocellulosic compositions' degradation during chicken manure aerobic composting with added biochar.

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