Microorganisms Associated with Composting of Pycnanthus angolensis with Cow Dung

Composting and vermicomposting processes were carried out using wood dust of Pycnanthus angolensis with animal waste added as boosters for compost. Substrates were prepared with varying ratio of wood dust: animal waste and kept for a period of 10 weeks on shelf outdoor. The temperature reached a maximum of 42.5⁰C in composting in 2 weeks of the process and dropped to 25.5⁰C in vermicomposting at the same period. At the initial stage, more of gram positive bacteria were isolated, including Bacillus coagulans, Pediococcus cerevisae, Streptococcus faecalis. Lactobacillus subger, Micrococcus luteus, Actinomyces bovis, Actinomyces ericksonii. Some of the gram negative bacteria isolated were Acinetobacter anitratis, Citrobacter freundii, Escherichia coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Brucella militenses.  The fungi species isolated include Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporium sp Curvularia The highest total population of bacteria was 2.55×10⁷ cfu/ml, while that of fungi was 4.35 10⁵ sfu/ml  isolated from compost substrate of the wood dust and cow dung. The total bacteria population increased from 4.55 ×10⁶ to 2.55×10⁷cfu/ml in composting, and 6.82×10⁶cfu/ml in vermicomposting in 2 weeks. Both bacteria and fungi diversity and population reduced significantly at the end of the process with the most occurring genus as Bacillus and Aspergillus species.