Effect of aeration rates on enzymatic activity and bacterial community succession during cattle manure composting.

• Effect of aeration rates on cattle manure composting was studied. • AR20 treatment was unfavorable to the uniformity of bacteria in mature phase. • Cellulase, alkaline phosphatase and catalase were main enzymes affecting composting. • Regulating temperature, moisture content and EC could improve maturity. In order to explore changes in microbial enzyme activity and bacterial community, a 60-day composting experiment was conducted using cattle manure and straw under aeration rates of 0.45, 0.68, and 0.90 L min−1 kg−1 fresh weight. High aeration rate increased the cellulase, urease, alkaline and acid phosphatase activities, but decreased that of invertase and catalase. Cellulase, alkaline phosphatase and catalase were the main enzymes that affected the composting process. Microbial analysis showed that high aeration rate increased the uniformity of bacterial community in thermophilic phase, but decreased that in mature phase. Different aeration rate affected the bacterial community structure and further influenced the relationship between enzyme and functional bacteria. Regulating the temperature, moisture content and EC in specific phases to affect bacterial community succession could provide guidance for improving maturity of composting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]