Characterization and bacterial succession studies of garden waste during the windrow composting process at mercy college campus

Windrow composting of biodegradable waste from Mercy College campus was studied. Four phases of the composting process were mesophilic I (25-45(C) (ii) thermophilic phase (45-68(C), (iii) mesophilic phase II, and (iv) maturation. A total of 94 bacterial strains were characterized. Mesophilic bacteria increased from 3.2 � 106 CFU/g dw to 12.4 x 1013 CFU/g dw on day 30th. Bacillus licheniformis (44 mm), Bacillus cereus (45 mm), Bacillus megaterium (41 mm) were the maximum amylase, protease and lipase producers. Bacillus species dominated in the thermophilic stage, Lactobacillus sp. in the second mesophilic phase, Cellulomonas sp. and Artobacter sp. in the maturation phase. pH, EC, MC, TOM, TOC, Total nitrogen, C/N ratio, P, Na, Ca, K, Fe and Heavy Metals like Zn, Cu, Ni and Pb were normal. Mature compost resulted with 93.87�1.2% of Allium cepa germination and mitotic index of 90.0�1.08%. The results help to design efficient windrow composting which provides an ideal pool of industrial enzymes.