Microbial community analyses of composts are influenced by particle size fraction and DNA extraction method
Abstract
Composting plays a key role in sustainable agriculture by converting organic waste into a valuable soil conditioner. The process is driven by complex microbial communities, whose characterization is essential for optimizing the composting process and compost quality. Molecular techniques such as amplicon sequencing are commonly used for this purpose. However, sampling procedures and DNA extraction methods, key steps in the sequencing workflow, often vary across studies, challenging comparability. We investigated two aspects of sample preparation that may influence compost microbial analyses. For DNA extraction, often fine fractions (
Fields of Study & Subjects
Composting and Vermicomposting Techniques
Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Microbiological Methods
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 241
- Pages
- 107384–107384
- Publication date
- 13 January 2026
- Language
- EN