Production of Antifungal Compost by Using Bacillus licheniformis KJ-9

Abstract

In order to produce environmental-friendly fermented compost, a cattle manure-sawdust compost (antifungal compost) was developed by inoculation of B. licheniformis KJ-9 to cattle manure-sawdust. The thermal stability of the antifungal substance produced by B. licheniformis KJ-9 maintained more than 60% antifungal activity with heat treatment at 100oC for 10 min, and the optimum pH of antifungal activity of the substance was 7.0. In a pot experiment with red pepper, the antifungal compost increased 1.5~2 times in leaf number and stem and root growth rate compared to those of commercial compost. Also, the diameter of stems increased 1.5-3 times in the antifungal compost treated group. The amount of microbes increased markedly in soil supplemented with antifungal compost compared to the control. In the field experiment for cultivation of garlic and Perilla japonica, the growth of both crops was significantly enhanced in the field treated with antifungal compost as compared to the commercial compost.