Raw data of bacterial, fungal and archaeal amplicons sequencing of cauliflower waste compost

Owing to the huge amounts and perishable character of vegetable wastes, composting is one of the best options for recycling vegetable wastes during postharvest. The initial moisture content (MC) is critical for optimizing composting process, but its effect on composting vegetable wastes under low temperature conditions was rarely reported. For this, the plant-scale windrows prepared by mixing cauliflower waste and maize straws with initial MC of 70 % and 80 %, respectively were composted in winter. As composting progressed, substantial organic matter degradation, progressive humification, decreases in electrical conductivity and increases of pH and germination index (GI) were observed in both treatments. Nonetheless, composting with initial MC of 70 % accelerated heating rate early during composting, prolonged high temperature period by 30 d and significantly improved the humification of end-products compared to composting with initial MC of 80 %. Results also revealed that the initial MC crucially affected microbial communities, especially the fungal community. Remarkably, the "ccascade effect" of initial MC resulted in the greatest difference in composting temperatures, humification degree and microbial communities during the maturation phase. Differential microbes between the two treatments were significantly correlated with composting temperatures, GI and humification indices. It is deemed that initial MC impacted vegetable waste composting under low temperature conditions, which was mediated by composting temperatures and microbial communities.