Targeted loci: Microbial communities in poultry litter slurry anaerobic digestate treated with activated sludge and algae

The objective of this project was to investigate the impact that algae have on bacterial treatment of anaerobic digestate of poultry litter slurry. We tested the following treatments in aerobic batch cultures: native digestate microbes acting alone, native digestate microbes with algae, native digestate microbes amended with activated sludge microbes, and native digestate microbes amended with both activated sludge and algae. Of particular interest were the impacts on removal of organic matter, as measured by COD, as well as nitrification. To understand changes observed in water quality, we also engaged in targeted loci sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to identify relative abundance of bacteria, particularly those involved in nitrification. Sequencing was followed by qPCR assays of specific genes involved in nitrification.