Objective Microbes capable of degrading cellulose in compost and suitable for application in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region were tested, and fermentation conditions to maximize the enzyme generation optimized.

Method Soil samples were collected at the forests in Haibei Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Cellulolytic bacteria were isolated by the Congo red staining and 3,5- Dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) methods. Highly efficient cellulose-degrading strains were identified by physiochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequencing. Conditions to effectively generate cellulase by the bacteria were optimized. Extracts of the enzymes produced from the fermentation were diluted to 1% and added to compost with cellulolytic process and compositing conditions monitored.

Result The isolated MX-1-1, which was subsequently identified as a strain of Bacillus mycoides, displayed the greatest degradation activities on carboxymethyl cellulose, filter paper, and exo-β-glucanose at 24.95, 11.36, and 16.15 U·mL⁻¹, respectively. In generating carboxymethyl cellulase, the fermentation that increased 51.5% in activity over control employed beef paste for nitrogen and CMC-Na for carbon in a medium of an initial pH of 5.0 at 20 ℃ for 3 d. With the addition of MX-1-1 extract, the compost rose rapidly to a lasting high temperature with relatively stable pHs. At the end of fermentation, the compost showed a conductivity of 0.96 ms·cm⁻¹ with the moisture content at its lowest level, the nitrate and ammonium nitrogen at the matured decomposition level, and the total nitrogen and organic matter higher than those in asepsis or D50 compost.

Conclusion MX-1-1, a strain of Bacillus mycoides, was found highly cellulolytic. By adding it for composting farm waste, the metabolic activity was significantly enhanced to hasten the cellulose decomposition.