Effects of exogenous protein-like precursors on humification process during lignocellulose-like biomass composting: Amino acids as the key linker to promote humification process.

• Adding amino acids promote humification process of lignocellulosic composting. • Assess the degradation and transformation of organic components during composting. • Reveal mechanism of organic components transformation with amino acids addition. • Propose a regulation method for improving carbon sequestration of lignocellulose. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of protein-like precursors addition on promoting humification process during lignocellulose-like biomass composting through adding amino acids to compost. The humification indexes of R1 and R2 was significantly higher than that of CK (P < 0.05). The decreasing ratio of Maillard precursor concentration of R2 and R1 was higher than CK. Amino acids addition affected the bacteria community and environmental factors during composting. Variance partitioning analysis showed that humification process was strengthened with environmental factors, bacteria community, Maillard precursors. Structural equation model (SEM) analysis showed that amino acids had substantial impact on promoting humic acid (HA) formation. The combined application of protein-like wastes and lignocellulose-like wastes was suggested to improve carbon sequestration. This study lays a foundation for economically and effectively managing different types of straws by composting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]