Resource utilization of mink manure: Functional microbial inoculation to elevate the bioavailability of organic nitrogen during composting

Mink manure is one of the high nitrogenous wastes, which can easily cause nitrogen mineralization during composting, resulting in low resource reutilization. However, there are few studies on the resource utilization of mink manure. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of functional microbial (bacterial and actinomycetes agents) inoculation on nitrogen mineralization during mink manure composting. Results suggested that the inoculum, especially actinomycetes agents, could increase organic nitrogen and bioavailable organic nitrogen (BON) content. Principal component analysis and Random Forest model demonstrated that the inoculants increase the abundance of microorganisms that positively correlated with BON, decrease the microorganisms that negatively correlated with BON. Consequently, the inoculation of functional microbial agents could effectively reduce nitrogen mineralization and improve composting quality. Therefore, this study provided theoretical and technical support for optimizing mink manure composting, promoting the resource utilization of high nitrogen wastes.