Isolation and characterization of novel thermophilic nitrifying Bacillus sp. from compost

A thermophilic nitrifying bacterium, strain T3, was isolated from compost made of animal waste by using a novel selective medium. Strain T3 was classified into the genus Bacillus, close to Bacillus halodurans, but identified as a novel species. To evaluate the effect of adding strain T3 on ammonia emission during the process of composting animal waste, laboratory scale composting was done. Ammonia emission was lower when strain T3 was added than in the control material to which strain T3 was not added. Thermophilic nitrifying bacteria in the strain T3-containing material increased from 6.24 (log value) to 7.55 (log value) on average during the tests. These results suggested the possibility of reducing ammonia emission from composting of animal waste by adding strain T3.