Responsive bacterial consortia driven by membrane-covered aerobic composting induce variations in organic component dynamics

The treatment of agricultural solid organic waste through a semi-permeable membrane-covered aerobic composting system (SMS) has been recognized as an effective strategy to facilitate the resource utilization of agricultural residues. However, the dynamic variations in organic components and their interactions with key bacterial communities in SMS remain insufficiently explored. In this study, chromatography-mass spectrometry, high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and synchrotron radiation-based techniques were used to investigate this issue. The analysis of carbon-related parameters indicated that the application of a functional membrane (CM) notably enhanced the degradation rate of organic matter compared to non-covered traditional windrow composting (CK). By the end of the composting process, the CM treatment demonstrated a significantly higher germination index (GI) of 90.12% compared to 81.34% in CK, suggesting improved compost maturity and the absence of phytotoxicity. Synchrotron radiation-based FTIR spectromicroscopy was used to investigate the microspatial distribution and binding behavior of functional groups throughout the composting process, revealing that the organic components were primarily concentrated in the core regions of the compost particles during the high-temperature and post-composting phases. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results indicated that both composting treatment and temporal progression significantly influenced bacterial community composition. Specifically, SMS treatment was associated with the enrichment of bacterial genera Dietzia, Nocardiopsis, and Thermobifida, which play critical roles in modulating the variation patterns of organic components, thereby contributing to enhanced composting efficiency. These findings offer a theoretical basis for microbial regulation strategies to improve resource recovery from organic solid waste.