The present study was conducted to screen candidate probiotic strains for anti-inflammatory activity. Initially, a nitric oxide (NO) assay was used to test selected candidate probiotic strains for anti-inflammatory activity in cultures of the murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. Then, the in vitro probiotic properties of the strains, including bile tolerance, acid resistance, and growth in skim milk media, were investigated. We also performed an in vitro hydrophobicity test and an intestinal adhesion assay using Caenorhabditis elegans as a surrogate in vivo model. From our screening, we obtained 4 probiotic candidate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains based on their anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell cultures and the results of the in vitro and in vivo probiotic property assessments. Molecular characterization using 16S rDNA sequencing analysis identified the 4 LAB strains as Lactobacillus plantarum. The selected L. plantarum strains (CAU1054, CAU1055, CAU1064, and CAU1106) were found to possess desirable in vitro and in vivo probiotic properties, and these strains are good candidates for further investigations in animal models and human clinical studies to elucidate the mechanisms underlying their anti-inflammatory activities.

Cho-Rong Leehttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-4912-8035Nitrogen (N) supply from organic materials (OM) takes more time than chemical fertilizer (CF), because mineralization of organic N requires microbial conversion. Most organic N applied to soil remains into SOM. It might have a greater residual effect than CF on soil fertility and crop nutrient uptake and influence on N fate. Residual organic N might have influence on soil fertility and nutrient uptake of crop by depending on N cycling in soil. This study investigated the residual effect of 15 N-labeled organic materials on Chinese cabbage N uptake and soil N. 15 N-labeled organic materials at rate of 456 kg N/ha applied with green manure (GM), livestock compost (LC), GM+LC, oil cake (OC), and CF into wagner pot (1/2000a) for Chinese cabbage cultivation. During continuous crop cultivation (Sep. 2018 to Mar, 2020), 15N-labeled Chinese cabbage and soil was analyzed by using stable isotope elemental analyzer. Organic materials and chemical fertilizer were higher N uptake in Chinese cabbage than in the control at first cropping season. However, N uptake of Chinese cabbage under continuous cultivation was significantly increased 35-72% at organic material treatments compared to the control. Also, 15 N-labeled soil was significantly high at the treatments applied with GM, LC, and GM+LC, but was not at OC and CF treatment. In conclusion, organic materials (especially GM, LC, and GM+LC) had a greater N residual effect on Chinese cabbage and soil than chemical fertilizer.

Although livestock manure and food waste have emerged to be main issues to cause environmental problems, at the same time, and recycle natural resources, the simultaneous treatment method and impact of two organic wastes are not well understood. In this research, the influence of different types of livestock manures combination on compost maturity, greenhouse gas (GHG) and NH 3 emission was evaluated during food waste composting. Apart from a control treatment (only food waste, OF), three co-composting treatments were conducted: (1) food waste + cow manure (FCM); (2) food waste + swine manure (FSM); and (3) food waste + poultry manure (FPM). An 84-day composting experiment was conducted in 62 L composting chamber. During composting process, changes of methane (CH 4 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), ammonia (NH 3 ) emissions and compost pile; temperature, pH, nutrient content, etc., were periodically investigated. The co-composting with livestock manures significantly reduced nitrogen losses by NH 3 (11.5 -44.2%) and N 2 O (39.1 -49.7%) emissions. The lowest NH 3 emission were observed in FSM treatment. The highest CH 4 and N 2 O production was detected in FCM and OF treatment, respectively. The global warming potential (GWP) value was calculated to evaluate overall GHG impact, then FSM showed the lowest GWP value (7.0 kg CO 2 eq. kg -1 ), which is 109% reduction rate compared to FC (highest GWP, 14.7 kg CO 2 eq. kg -1 ). Nutrients content such as Ca, Mg, and K of final compost product were increased by 33 -76%, 17 -76%, 60 -90% in livestock manure combination treatments. Germination index was increased in FSM and FPM, compared to OF during composting, and then they could accelerate maturation rate. These results suggested that co-composting with food waste and livestock manures is recommendable to improve compost quality, especially, swine manure was an efficient material to reduce GHG and nitrogen loss by NH 3 for food waste composting.

In this study, we demonstrate that the addition of earthworm castings (EC) in kitchen waste composting reduces ammonia and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improves compost maturity. Kitchen waste (KW) was mixed with sawdust at a ratio of 7:3 as the compost stock. Four treatments with different proportions of EC added (0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, and 7.5% on the basis of the initial kitchen waste mass) were designed and utilized in a composting process lasting 85 days. The results showed that the GHG and ammonia emissions were considerably reduced in the treatments with EC added. In addition, EC amendment prolonged the thermophilic stage and shortened the composting period. The addition of EC reduced ammonia, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions by 61%, 48%, and 94%, respectively, also indicating that nitrogen in the compost was conserved. Nitrogen and major nutrients were best preserved in the EC 7.5% treatment, which produced a compost product with a better nutrient profile. Furthermore, the total global warming potential of the KW composting process was reduced by 74% by using the mixture with EC. An effective reduction in GHG emissions was observed already with the addition of 2.5% EC, but a significant reduction in ammonia emissions was observed for the EC 7.5% treatment. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that EC is an effective additive in KW composting. More specifically, addition of EC at 7.5% of the initial KW mass was most recommendable for mitigating potential global warming effects and improving compost quality.

Organic farming has been known to improve soil quality by enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) contents. The labile organic carbon (LOC) pools and carbon management index (CMI) are commonly used as very sensitive indicators of changes in SOC and assessment of soil quality. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of organic farming practices on soil quality by LOC fractions and CMI analysis in a 6-year field experiment. Four treatments were included: compost (COM), green manure (GM), inorganic fertilizer (NPK), and no fertilization (NF). This study was designed to explore changes in SOC concentrations, soil labile organic C fractions (microbial biomass C (MBC), water and hot water-extractable C (WEC, HWEC), particulate organic C (POC), light fraction organic C (LFOC) and permanganate oxidizable C (POXC)) and CMI within the bulk soil under organic corn cultivation condition. Organic fertilization significantly increased SOC concentrations and stocks by 10 -55% compared to NPK and NF, especially, compost treatment. All labile carbon fractions were higher in COM and GM compared to NPK and NP, except MBC content. Among the LOC fractions, POC showed the highest proportion (32 -87%) on total SOC. The CMI varied from 0.87 to 2.77, organic fertilized treatments increased by 1.7 -3.2 times over NPK. These results showed that POC and POXC could be used as a rapid and informative indicator to assess soil quality and SOC changes. Hence, organic farming management could therefore contribute to improved nutrient cycling services and higher soil quality.