Insights of bacterial communities in kitchen and agricultural waste composts for environmental sustainability: a systematic review

Improper kitchen and agricultural waste management causes substantial health and environmental problems. The microbiological aspects of compost are crucial in optimizing its functionality as an organic fertilizer. This systematic review studies the relationship between kitchen and agricultural waste composts and their bacterial communities as well as the physicochemical properties. A total of 59 publications dated 2010 to 19 June 2023 were included. Results revealed that the pH of these waste composts ranges from 5.0 to 10.0, and the carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio values are between 12.70 and 47.00, which are optimal for plant growth. Environmental bacterial phyla such as Acidobacteria, Nitrospirae, Synergistetes, and thermophiles such as Thermodesulfobacteria exclusively exist in agricultural waste compost. These bacteria are pivotal in degrading lignocellulosic biomass and participating in the plant biogeochemical cycles. This study identifies potential strategies in improving the microbiological and abiotic aspects of compost for soil nutrient enrichment in the future, informing the best practice of composting to better manage the waste, and mitigate the environmental pollution, which eventually enhances public health and socioeconomic development of the country.