The potential of effective microorganisms in composting animal manure might be significant. This work aimed at isolating promising microbial strains for composting cattle and horse manure. A total of forty-five isolates have been isolated from soils of Northern Kazakhstan as well as cattle and horse manure. These microorganisms were extensively studied for their cellulose-degrading capacity, non-pathogenicity, protease, nitrogenase and catalase activities, as well as their growth stimulation, antagonistic ability, and growth rate. As a result, 21 potent strains were selected and genotyped for the creation of microbial consortia. These consortia were then used in small-scale composting experiments with cattle and horse manure. Further studies evaluated the effectiveness of the composting process and the quality of the compost produced. The study yielded promising results, identifying effective microbial strains that could enhance the composting of horse and cattle manure.

The present study aimed to evaluate the biocontrol and plant growth-promoting potential of putative nitrogen-fixing bacterial strains isolated from the soils of Northern Kazakhstan against major cereal crop phytopathogens and during the early stages of plant development. Phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium proliferatum and Alternaria alternata, were isolated from infected cereal tissues and seeds using conventional mycological techniques. The antagonistic activity of the bacterial strains was assessed using a dual-culture assay. A total of 26 bacterial isolates were screened for antagonistic activity and plant growth-promoting effects. Several isolates exhibited pronounced inhibitory activity against both pathogens by suppressing fungal mycelial growth. The plant growth-promoting potential of bacterial culture filtrates was evaluated under in vitro conditions using buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) varieties ‘Shortandinskaya 6’ and ‘Shortandinskaya Krupnozernaya’. Germination energy, laboratory germination, shoot length, and root length were recorded during seedling development. The tested bacterial culture filtrates showed a stimulatory effect on seedling growth, with the most pronounced response observed in root elongation, indicating their positive influence on rhizogenesis. The obtained results demonstrate that Agrobacterium pusense st.51S, Ensifer fredii st.59S, and Oricola cellulosilytica st.70S exhibited strong antagonistic activity against Fusarium proliferatum, whereas O. cellulosilytica st.70S, Streptomyces virginiae st.11S, and Ensifer meliloti st.56S effectively inhibited the growth of Alternaria alternata. In addition, E. meliloti st.56S, Priestia megaterium st.35S, Rhizobium giardinii st.2S, and Ensifer sp. st.91S significantly promoted buckwheat seed germination and seedling growth. The most pronounced growth-promoting effect was observed for E. meliloti st.56S, which increased shoot and root length of ‘Shortandinskaya 6’ by 31.4% and 23.8%, respectively, compared with the control. These strains represent promising candidates for the development of microbial bioformulations aimed at improving seed quality, enhancing early plant development, and promoting sustainable crop production under the dry steppe conditions of Northern Kazakhstan.

The decline of soil organic matter in Kazakhstan due to long-term monoculture and intensive fertilizer use has increased the need for sustainable soil management strategies. This study aimed to develop a new composting technique to produce more performant organic fertilizers from cattle manure to contribute to the broader strategy to increase soil organic matter and to improve fertility in northern Kazakhstan soils. Composting experiments were conducted using oxidized coal at 5%, 10%, and 20% dosages combined with two microbial consortia, and physicochemical and microbiological parameters were monitored throughout the process. The addition of microbial consortia and oxidized coal significantly enhanced composting dynamics by accelerating the transition to the thermophilic phase and increasing microbial activity. Treated systems exhibited higher temperatures (up to 48–49 °C), greater microbial abundance, and improved nitrogen transformation, characterized by increased NH₄⁺–N accumulation followed by NO₃⁻–N formation. Organic matter degradation was more efficient in amended treatments, while oxidized coal contributed to improved moisture retention and pH stabilization. However, excessive coal addition (20%) reduced microbial activity at later stages. Among the treatments, the combination of Consortium 3 with 10% oxidized coal showed the most balanced performance, with enhanced microbial activity, efficient nutrient transformation, and stable compost maturation. These findings demonstrate that the integration of microbial consortia with oxidized coal is an effective strategy for improving composting efficiency and producing high-quality organo-mineral fertilizers, with potential for improving compost quality and nutrient stabilization, and supporting sustainable and regenerative soil management in degraded agricultural systems.

Under rainfed conditions of Northern Kazakhstan, the effects of microbiologically processed cattle manure (CCM) on soil agrochemical and microbiological properties, yield structure, and spring wheat productivity were evaluated over two contrasting growing seasons (2024–2025). Field experiments on chernozem soils tested manure rates of 5–30 t ha⁻¹. Favorable hydrothermal conditions in 2024 enhanced fertilizer efficiency compared with the drier 2025 season. CCM application increased soil nitrate nitrogen from low (<8 mg kg⁻¹) to medium levels (8–12 mg kg⁻¹), while available phosphorus and potassium increased by 15–35% relative to the control across key growth stages. The abundance of major functional microbial groups increased by 1.5–3.0-fold, particularly nitrogen-transforming and cellulose-degrading microorganisms. Grain yield improved significantly in both years, with the highest and most stable yields observed at 15–20 t ha⁻¹, resulting in yield gains of 18–32% compared with the control. Yield improvements were associated with increases in grain number per spike (up to 25–27 grains) and grain weight per spike (up to 1.42–1.62 g). Higher manure rates (20–30 t ha⁻¹) did not confer additional yield benefits. Overall, these findings indicate that moderate CCM application effectively enhances soil fertility, stimulates microbial activity, and improves wheat productivity under dryland conditions.

Отбор и изучение эффективных штаммов микроорганизмов для создания микробных препаратов при возделывании сельскохозяйственных культур является одним из приемов получения высококачественной конкурентоспособной растениеводческой продукции, сохраняя при этом плодородие почвы и состояние окружающей среды. Для эффективного применения биопрепаратов необходимы глубокие исследования взаимоотношений в системе почва – микроорганизмы – растения с учетом законов их фунционирования. Биопрепараты на основе почвенных микроорганизмов в отличие от минеральных удобрений имеют много приемуществ: эффективны, безопасны для человека, не токсичны. Микроорганизмы, входящие в состав биопрепаратов, сохраняют жизнедеятельность в условиях интенсивного земледелия, могут обладать высокой приспосабливаемостью к почвенно-климатическим условиям. Немаловажным фактором является влияние изученных штаммов на показатели начального прорастания семян, что позволяет сглаживать влияние барьеров экологической неоднородности окружающей среды. Настоящая работа отражает результаты лабораторных исследований по отбору и изучению штамма Priestia megaterium и его влиянию на морфофизиологические характеристики семян пшеницы на начальном этапе роста. По полученным результатам штаммы P. megaterium шт.№6, шт.№8, шт.№10, шт.№22 выявлены как наиболее активные, повышавшие всхожесть и стимулировавшие ростовые процессы при прорастании семян пшеницы.