Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Tai-Chuan Wang, Chien-Yong Yeh, Yu-Cheng Lin, Bo-Wen Lin, Me-Chi Yao, and Shu-Chen Chang*

Abstract:

With the rise in global temperature, the removal and long-term sequestration of CO₂ from the atmosphere have become a shared global goal. Agricultural waste can be transformed by microorganisms into humic substances (HS) that are less prone to decomposition in soil, thereby increasing soil carbon sequestration. This study analyzed the gut microbiota of larvae from 3 different beetle species with varying diets. The gut microbiota of larvae from Trypoxylus dichotomus, which feed on decaying wood, were found to be richer and harbored a greater diversity of bacterial species compared to those of Alphitobius diaperinus and Araecerus fasciculatus. Further analysis of the gut microbiota isolated from 3 beetle larvae species examined the activity of enzymes involved in humic acid biosynthesis, including cellulase, ligninase, laccase, and tyrosinase. Among them, Bacillus megaterium BM01 and B. aryabhattai BA01 exhibited activities for all 4 enzymes, while B. subtilis BS01 showed activities for the first 3 enzymes. To further examine the ability of strains to convert rice straw into humic acid, B. megaterium BM01, B. aryabhattai BA01, and B. subtilis BS01 exhibited an increased humic acid conversion efficiency of 2.4%, 2.3%, and 2.1%, respectively, compared to the control group without inoculation. These findings suggest potential applications in on-site conversion and decomposition of residual rice straw post-harvest to humic acid, thereby enhancing soil carbon sequestration.

Key words:Beetle, Gut microbiota, Humic acid, Soil carbon sequestration

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