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Agronomy
Volume 15
Issue 11
10.3390/agronomy15112456
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Soluble Phosphate Additives Remodel Microbial Networks to Accelerate Organic Matter Transformation in Food Waste Composting

by
Ake Zhang
1,2,
Yunfeng Chen
3,
Min Xu
3,
Bo Liu
3,
Zhi Zhang
4,
Hao Fan
5,
Yuquan Wei
4,* and
Yabin Zhan
3,*
1
College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
2
Fuyang Agricultural Science Academy, Fuyang 236008, China
3
Institute of Plant Protection and Soil Fertilizer, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Fertilization from Agricultural Wastes, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430064, China
4
Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
5
College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agronomy 2025, 15(11), 2456; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112456
Submission received: 27 September 2025 / Revised: 19 October 2025 / Accepted: 20 October 2025 / Published: 22 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Composting and Vermicomposting)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Phosphates were widely used in composting, but their impact on the degradation of organic matter transformation in food waste compost was not well known. In this study, Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O and K2HPO4 were separately added to food waste for a 30-day composting process. Chemical stoichiometry, high-throughput sequencing, and Mantel analysis were used to reveal the effect of phosphate addition on carbon conversion in composting. Results showed that soluble phosphate addition enhanced compost maturation despite inhibiting crude protein degradation. At the end of composting, the addition of Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O and K2HPO4 resulted in a 33.75% and 45.15% increase in GI compared to the control group. Compared with K2HPO4, Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O addition improved total organic carbon (degradation rate increased by 2.9%) and total volatile solids (increased by 1.13%) degradation while reducing pH (decreased by 0.52), promoting total nitrogen preservation (increased by 25.56%). Microbial co-occurrence networks showed that phosphate increased community complexity and stability, enriching core taxa (Lentilactobacillus, Paraburkholderia, Catelliglobosispora, and Pseudarthrobacter). Mantel tests linked microbial diversity to lipid decomposition and maturation. Random forest analysis revealed that additive soluble phosphate boosted organic matter and lipid degradation by stimulating Tepidisphaera and Thermobifida, while suppressing Lactiplantibacillus. Additionally, soluble phosphate enhanced crude protein degradation via Compostibacillus, Weizmannia, and Ureibacillus enrichment. At the end of composting, Tepidisphaera (14.68%) and Thermobifida (30.62%) had a higher proportion in Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O treatment, which might be an important reason why this treatment was beneficial for organic matter degradation. Overall, Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O achieved the highest maturity and nitrogen retention, proving optimal for food waste composting.
Keywords: bacterial communities; organic matter degradation; co-occurrence network analysis; phosphorus; random forest bacterial communities; organic matter degradation; co-occurrence network analysis; phosphorus; random forest

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, A.; Chen, Y.; Xu, M.; Liu, B.; Zhang, Z.; Fan, H.; Wei, Y.; Zhan, Y. Soluble Phosphate Additives Remodel Microbial Networks to Accelerate Organic Matter Transformation in Food Waste Composting. Agronomy 2025, 15, 2456. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112456

AMA Style

Zhang A, Chen Y, Xu M, Liu B, Zhang Z, Fan H, Wei Y, Zhan Y. Soluble Phosphate Additives Remodel Microbial Networks to Accelerate Organic Matter Transformation in Food Waste Composting. Agronomy. 2025; 15(11):2456. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112456

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Ake, Yunfeng Chen, Min Xu, Bo Liu, Zhi Zhang, Hao Fan, Yuquan Wei, and Yabin Zhan. 2025. "Soluble Phosphate Additives Remodel Microbial Networks to Accelerate Organic Matter Transformation in Food Waste Composting" Agronomy 15, no. 11: 2456. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112456

APA Style

Zhang, A., Chen, Y., Xu, M., Liu, B., Zhang, Z., Fan, H., Wei, Y., & Zhan, Y. (2025). Soluble Phosphate Additives Remodel Microbial Networks to Accelerate Organic Matter Transformation in Food Waste Composting. Agronomy, 15(11), 2456. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112456

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