The effect of inoculation times on the enzyme activities during agricultural waste composting was determined. Four runs were used: without inoculation (Run A), inoculation with Phanerochaete chrysosporium (P. chrysosporium) during the first fermentation phase (Run B), inoculation during the second fermentation phase (Run C) and inoculation during both the first and the second fermentation phase (Run D). The results revealed that the effect of inoculation on carboxy methyl cellulase (CMCase) activities was negative during the first fermentation phase. The inoculation increased the activities of xylanase (almost 3000 U/g) during the first fermentation phase but no obvious difference among Runs A-D was observed during the second fermentation phase. The peak values of manganese peroxidase (MnP) in Runs C and D were three times higher than those of Runs A and B on day 21. The inoculation positively affected the lignin peroxidase (LiP) activities during the first fermentation phase and had a significant negative effect on the laccase (Lac) activities during the second fermentation phase. Therefore, the inoculation during the second fermentation phase was more effective than that during the first fermentation phase. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd.