**5. Classification of decomposer biota**

There are three main biota involved in agricultural waste management, which include:


There are vast variety of decomposers like bacteria, protozaons, and some larger vertebrates. These are classified on the basis of size as (**Figures 6, 7**):

1.Microflora and fauna: Bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, and protozoans.

2.Mesofauna: Acarina, collembola, etc.

*Role of Decomposers in Agricultural Waste Management DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93816*

**Figure 6.**

*Taxonomical biodeversity of waste decomposers.*

**Figure 7.**

*Classification of bio-decomposers on the basis of size.*

3.Macrofauna, including lumbricids, enchytraeids, millipedes, gastropods, and arthropods.

These decomposers further classified on the bases of role in decomposition process primary and secondary (**Figure 4**).


Major decomposers of soil are bacteria, fungi, nematodes, micro-arthropods, and earthworms [41, 42].

1.**Bacteria**: Bacteria are the most effective decomposers due to their high degree of versatility. On the basis of mobility, there are two types of bacteria: mobile and immobile, due to the presence of whip-like structure flagella. They are further classified by the number of flagella; uniflagillated or multiflagillated. The average size of bacteria is in the range of 2 mm. The bio-decomposer bacterial species are the most important and initiator of decomposition process. There are about 5000 bacteria of estimated 109 bacterial cells present in one gram of organic soil. The cellulose-producing bacteria are the potent bacterial cell lines in hydrolytical cleavage of agricultural residue in decomposition process which includes *bacillus* spp., *pseudomonas*, *cellulomonas*, etc.

**6. Different phases of decomposition process along with enzymatic**

Polysaccharides/lipids/proteins ! Mono-sacharides/glycerol and fatty

Cellulase; endo-1,4-beta-d-glucanase Cellulose, lichenin, and cereal beta-d-glucans

Mannan endo-1,4-beta-mannosidase Mannans, galactomannans, and glucomannans Beta-mannosidase Terminal, nonreducing beta-d-mannose residues

Alpha-galactosidase Hydrolysis of terminal galactose oligosaccharides,

Sugars*=*amino acids*=*peptides ! Fermentation Propionate, butyrate

Beta-glucosidase Nonreducing beta-d-glucosyl residues

Cellulose and cellotetraose

in beta-d-mannosides

galactomannans, and galactolipids

**Name of enzymes Hydrolytic product**

Alpha-glucuronidase Alpha-d-glucuronoside Peptidases Acting on peptide bonds

**activity**

acid/amino acid.

end)

**6.1 PHASE I: Hydrolysis**

**Hydrolytic enzymes**

**6.2 Phase II: Acidogenic**

**535**

Cellulose 1,4-beta-cellobiosidase (nonreducing

*Role of Decomposers in Agricultural Waste Management DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93816*

Endo-1,4-beta-xylanase Xylans Xylan 1,4-beta-xylosidase D-xylose

**Enzymes involved in acidogenic pathways**

