Effect of Rock Phosphate Enrichment and Azotobacter Inoculation on the Transformation of Nitrogen and Phosphorus during Composting

Abstract

The effect of inoculation with Azotobacter and addition of varying levels of rock phosphate was studied on Nand P transformations during composting. Inoculation with Azotobacter at 30 and 60 days of composting increased NH4+, N03, and total N contents and decreased water soluble P and C:N ratio, whereas the inoculation done at the start of composting had no effect. Rock phosphate enrichment accelerated decompositiori, conserved N and improved N mineralization. Phosphorus from rock phosphate was solubilized during composting and transformed into available forms.