Development of Microbial Consortium for Biotransformation of Floral Waste into Compost

Introduction: Floral waste generated in temples, ceremonies, and decorative activities causes environmental pollution due to uncontrolled disposal and slow natural degradation. Flowers offered in temples and religious places are often discarded into nearby waterways, posing a risk to both human health and the environment. Alternatively, floral waste can be recycled into valuable bioproducts such as compost to support sustainable agriculture. Objectives: The present study developed microbial consortium and explored their potential in degrading floral waste into nutrient-rich compost. Methods: The bacterial strains were isolated from different floral wastes and were characterized biochemically using standard tests. The biological potential of floral waste-degrading bacteria was also evaluated by screening for hydrolytic enzymes and compatibility assays. The selected bacterial isolates were used to decompose floral waste into nutrient-rich compost through microbial degradation. Results: A total of 8 bacterial strains were isolated from different floral waste agar media plates. Among these, four isolates were isolated from Plumeria alba, two from Helianthus annuus, and two from Nerium oleander. Of these, four isolates, viz., C8, C12, S17, and S19, were selected for further analysis based on their potential to produce hydrolytic enzymes like cellulase, protease, amylase, and phosphatase. The final compost showed improved texture and suitability for agricultural applications. The study demonstrates that the developed bacterial consortium could serve as effective biodegrading agents for managing floral waste. Conclusions: The study provided a cost-effective and eco-friendly strategy to reduce organic waste accumulation and promote resource recovery. Furthermore, the characterization of compost showed a good elemental concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Thus, microbial composting can be used as an efficient waste management strategy and contribute to sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and the generation of economically beneficial products.