Vermicomposting of silver wattle

Vermicomposting is the process of organic waste degradation through interactions between earthworms and microbes. A variety of organic wastes can be vermicomposted, producing a nutrient-rich final product that can be used as soil addictive. Giving the prolific invasive nature of the Australian silver wattle Acacia dealbata Link in Europe, it is important to find alternatives for its sustainable use. However, optimization of vermicomposting needs further comprehension of the fundamental microbial processes. Here we characterized the bacterial succession involved in the vermicomposting of the silver wattle during 56 days with the earthworm species Eisenia andrei. Significant changes in microbial composition, diversity and predicted metabolism were found throughout vermicomposting. The results provided detailed insights into the role of microbial succession during vermicomposting of the silver wattle and the potential of the final product as a sustainable plant fertilizer.