Montmorillonite promotes the transformation of lignocellulose to microbial necromass in co-composting of chicken manure and corn straw

Key Points

• Microbial necromass significantly increased due to montmorillonite addition in the composting process, enhancing nutrient cycling.
• Elevated levels of microbial necromass were recorded, with evidence showing nearly double the production compared to control samples.
• Co-composting of chicken manure and corn straw was conducted, incorporating montmorillonite to assess its impact.
• These findings suggest that montmorillonite could be vital for optimizing organic waste management and compost quality.