Core sampling test in large-scale compost cells for microorganism isolation

Abstract

Composting is a process by which organic wastes are transformed into fertilizer, preventing excess organic matter accumulation. Microbes that carry out this transformation have application in biotechnology. Composting cell assembling is a complex process, it can reach several m(3) of diverse materials. It is desirable a sampling methodology that allows the microbial analysis, however, this matter has not yet been approached by other researchers. In this work we tested soil auger to probe large-scale compost piles at the Sao Paulo Zoo, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The criterion for auger selection was percentage loss of material and microbe isolation from samples.