Effects of Effective Microorganism (EM) Inoculation on Co-Composting of Auricularia heimuer Residue with Chicken Manure and Subsequent Maize Growth

This study investigated the effects of different Effective Microorganism (EM) inoculation concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%) on the co-composting of <i>Auricularia heimuer</i> residue with chicken manure and the subsequent growth of maize. The aim was to enhance composting efficiency and promote maize productivity. Results showed that EM addition, particularly at medium concentrations, significantly accelerated the composting process by shortening the heating phase and prolonging the thermophilic period, with the 10% treatment reaching >50 °C by day 2. The 5-10% EM treatments markedly promoted the degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose, and enhanced key enzyme activities (e.g., cellulase and hemicellulase) during composting and maize growth stages. Regarding soil nutrients, the 5% EM treatment led to the most balanced increases in total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) contents, with rises of 58.7%, 47.8%, and 130.4%, respectively, during the seedling stage. For maize yield, this treatment enhanced total grain weight, hundred-grain weight, and root activity by 25.7%, 30.9%, and 53.2%, respectively, while also increasing dry matter and root weight. Redundancy and correlation analyses indicated strong positive relationships among root activity, soil TN, cellulase activity, and final yield. In conclusion, EM inoculation at 5-10% optimizes the composting process, improves substrate quality and nutrient supply, and promotes maize root development and yield, with 5% EM offering the most comprehensive benefits. This study provides a practical approach for agricultural waste recycling and sustainable maize cultivation.