Abstract: Using agricultural waste organic materials as fertilizer is beneficial to soil physical, chemical and microbiological properties. In this study, we examined the effects of application of chemical fertilizer (CK), traditional compost (OF), and vermicompost (VCF) on chemical properties, enzyme activities, and the number and diversity of microbial communities in cucumber planting soil. The results showed that OF and VCF treatments significantly increased soil pH, organic carbon content, and total nitrogen content, the activities of soil dehydrogenase, α-glucosidase, alkaline phosphomonoesterase and phosphodiesterase, and the abundance and alpha diversity of soil bacteria. In contrast, they had no significant effect on the abundance and alpha diversity of soil fungi. OF and VCF treatments altered soil microbial community structure, bacterial and fungal community composition, and significantly reduced the relative abundances of Mizugakiibacter, Rhodanobacter, and Penicillium. Richness Chao1 and α-diversity Shannon index of soil bacterial community were significantly correlated with pH value, organic carbon content, total nitrogen content, and phosphodiesterase activity. Results of redundancy analysis showed that total soil potassium content, β-glucosidase and acid phosphomonoesterase activities were the key factors affecting soil bacterial community, while soil α-glucosidase activity was the key factor affecting soil fungal community. Both traditional composting and vermicomposting improved the chemical properties and enzyme activities of soil, changed microbial community structure, and increased microbial community diversity.

Key words: biocompost derived from spent mushroom substrates, soil chemical property, enzyme activity, microbial community