Substrate-Specific Responses of Tissue Paper Mill Residue and Wastewater Treatment Sludge to Effective Microorganisms: Organic Matter Transformation and Nutrient Dynamics

Abstract

Tissue paper mill residue (TPMR) and wastewater treatment sludge (WTS) are organic wastes with potential for sustainable resource recovery, but their contrasting properties may affect their responses to Effective Microorganisms (EM) application. This study evaluated the effects of an EM preparation containing Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on organic matter transformation, nutrient dynamics, and seed germination in TPMR and WTS during a 36-day microcosm incubation. Treatments included an untreated control and single- and repeated-application EM treatments. In TPMR, lower measured organic matter contents were observed in EM-treated samples than in the control on Day 29, with reductions of 31.50–45.49%. Cellulose contents were also 17.08–22.53% lower on Day 36. Total potassium concentrations were 108.92–265.32% higher from Day 22 onward. In WTS, few differences were observed in organic matter, total nitrogen, or total phosphorus. However, total potassium concentrations in the single-application treatment were 105.11–459.24% higher than those in the control. On Day 36, the germination index exceeded 70% in all treatments except the repeated-application TPMR (64.99%). All WTS treatments showed germination index values above 90%. These results demonstrate that TPMR and WTS exhibited substrate-specific responses to EM application, highlighting the importance of considering waste characteristics when optimizing EM-based strategies for resource recovery.