Abstract:

In order to reveal the change law of microecology in cellar mud, different aged cellar mud (0, 2, 16, 33 years) from Hunan Xiangjiao liquor Co. Ltd was sampled to investigate changes in characteristics of microecology in wall cellar mud and bottom cellar mud, such as sensory and physiochemical qualities and microbial flora quantity during aging. Results indicated that with increasing age, cellar mud progressively exhibited the typical sensory quality of naturally ripe cellar mud. The moisture content in cellar mud showed a slowly decreasing trend, while a reverse trend was observed in the pH value of bottom cellar mud and the contents of organic substances, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium in cellar mud. The contents of moisture and available phosphorus in bottom cellar mud were slightly higher than those in wall cellar mud. Moreover, the total counts of different species of microbes in cellar mud, including bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi also exhibited a increasing trend, with a following order of bacteria fungi actinomycetes. Therefore, with increasing age, the quality of cellar mud can be gradually improved due to interactions between physiochemical factors and functional microbes.

Key words: cellar mud , characteristics , microecology , change