Microbial inoculant accelerated pig slurry maturation at low-temperature anaerobic digestion: Performance and mechanism

This study investigated the impact of microbial inoculants on maturing pig slurry during anaerobic digestion (AD) at psychrophilic temperatures (10 °C). A simulation experiment was conducted with two treatments: pig slurry alone (CK) and pig slurry supplemented with microbial inoculants (MA). The MA treatment achieved faster maturity than CK, as evidenced by an improved germination index (achieving 70 % in advance) and a reduced content of organic pollutants, which was attributed to an increased relative abundance of hydrolytic microorganisms (7–21 %) and decreased pathogens (6–9 %) at the early stage (<42 (d)). Microbial inoculants influenced pig slurry microorganisms by serving as keystone taxa (B_OTU229 (f_Ruminococcaceae) and F_OTU76 (s_Acremonium alcalophilum)), and stimulating new keystone taxa (B_OTU423 (g_NK4A214) and F_OTU25 (g_Clavulina)) through associative interactions, thereby intensifying saprotrophic and carbon cycling processes, and accelerating maturation. These results provide a biological strategy for maturing pig slurry and help elucidate the mechanisms underlying microbial effects.