Data Sheet 1_Ruminant versus non-ruminant manure composting: carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and associated physicochemical traits impact divergent pollutant emissions.docx

We monitored temperature, pH, carbon, nitrogen, sulphur contents, bacterial succession, and emissions of methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), ammonia (NH₃) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) during aerobic composting of non-ruminant manure (chicken and pig) and ruminant manure (sheep and cattle).

Sheep and cattle manure (characterized by higher C/N) reached maturity earlier and emitted 30–93% less greenhouse gases and odor than chicken and pig manure (characterized by lower C/N), although cattle manure produced slightly more CH₄. High emissions from chicken and pig manure coincided with dominance of Bacillus and Defluviitalea, which declined as readily available carbon was depleted. In contrast, sheep and cattle manure was associated with Actinomadura and Corynebacterium, genera that correlated with the immobilization of nitrogen and sulphur into stable forms during the degradation of recalcitrant carbon.