Use of autochthonous microorganisms in compost made from different types of manure.

Dear readers, in this publication we will share with you some experiences obtained in the elaboration of an experimental trial carried out at the Universidad Nacional Experimental Sur del Lago Venezuela, where different types of manure from cattle, pigs and chickens were used, in addition to this, native microorganisms of our own elaboration were applied, if you want to know how the product known as native microorganisms are elaborated, we invite you to visit the following link where the procedure is explained. Without further ado, let's start!

It is important to point out that in the composting process the objective is to reach a state of maturity, of course after going through several of the phases that were mentioned in previous articles, a compost that has not achieved stability is still maintained with high temperatures in its interior, which is an indicator that the composting process has not been completed. It is essential that all phases of the decomposition process through which the different materials used are subjected to obtain good quality compost are carried out.

Generally, compost takes approximately 3 to 5 months to mature or achieve stability, depending on the materials used to make it and its handling. Taking into account these points, there is the possibility of obtaining a mature compost in a period of less than 2 months by applying native microorganisms. Montilva (2014), obtained the maturation of the compost in approximately 5 weeks when microorganisms were applied, this occurs because the microorganisms, when in contact with the organic matter, begin the decomposition activity and release substances that are beneficial for the plants.

Taking into account the above considerations, different composts were made with endogenous materials, i.e. from the same farm and the locality, such as Phragmites australis grass, banana peel and the three different types of manure mentioned above, bovine, swine and chicken manure, which tend to have a high content of macro and micro nutrients, and of course the application of native microorganisms.

In order to establish the trial, different treatments were implemented where only one type of manure was used and in others the mixture of two types of manure, representation that will not be specified in this document, but we will mention the best results.

Regarding the organoleptic characteristics according to the treatments studied, it was observed that in the 8th week the best trend of stability in terms of organoleptic characteristics was achieved in the treatment where 100% bovine manure was used and in the treatment where 50% bovine manure and 50% swine manure were mixed with a fresh earthy odor, likewise a dark and totally homogeneous color was observed in the same treatments. The degree of darkening of the color of a compost is conditioned to the type of initial substrate, however, when it finishes its maturation process, it must present dark colors such as brown or black.

The aforementioned results indicate that stabilization was rapidly achieved in the composts with the aforementioned treatments, which is corroborated not only by the aforementioned organoleptic characteristics but also because the temperature levels decreased to 21.2°C in week 8 and remained there, as for the Ph levels they remained between 6 and 7 which favors microbial activity.

Regarding the nutritional level, all the treatments with the different manures showed excellent levels of macro and micro nutrients, organic matter, which certifies the above mentioned that all the manures used are rich in nutrients.

Finally, dear readers, it became evident that microbial activity plays a fundamental role in the composting process because the process can be accelerated when some products such as native microorganisms are inoculated and it also became evident that when using bovine manure it is very useful, possibly because it comes from a ruminant animal which degrades the fiber (cellulose, hemicellulose) of the grasses that they consume efficiently in their stomach, therefore, it will be a material of rapid decomposition by the microorganisms, in addition to providing adequate amounts of nutrients.