Influence of Peat and Biochar on Gas Emissions and Microbial Metabolism During Co-composting of Chicken Manure and Maize Straw

Abstract This study investigated the effects of peat (PT) and maize straw biochar (MSB) on gas emissions microbial metabolism characteristics during chicken manure (CM) (MS) composting. Three treatments with different additives (0%, 5% PT, MSB added dry weight basis) were designed to conduct 30-day aerobic composting experiments in nine insulated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) reactors. The results showed that PT addition increased temperature nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3 − –N) content but decreased ammonium nitrogen (NH 4 + compost. Compared control, total methane (CH ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O) ammonia ) reduced by 20.13–30.57%, 28.88–47.46% 37.35–52.71%, respectively. In addition, amendments improved utilization capacity carbohydrates, esters carboxylic acids. Redundancy analysis revealed temperature, NH –N, pH positively correlated CH , N O emissions. Meanwhile, –N also had positive correlations metabolism. Together these indicated amendment microbes emissions, eventually mitigating loss promoting quality compost product. Graphical