Author(s)

A Delgado, J L García-Morales, R Solera del Río & D Sales

Abstract

The knowledge of stability and maturity degree of compost is of great importance for compost producers and its consumers. The compost stability is associated with the microbial activity, while its maturity is related to the absence of phytotoxic substances for the growth of plants. As a means of evaluating the stability degree of compost, many methods have been proposed, both chemical (pH, relation CM, etc) and physical (temperature, moisture, etc). However, enzymatic and respiration tests appear to be the most appropriate. Maturity is detennined basically by biotests with plants (phytotoxicity tests), in which the germinating power of seeds in a water extract of compost is determined. The aim of this study consisted basically on the development of methods which allowed to carry out measures with microbial activity and the realisation of germination bioexperiments. 1 Introduction Only an adequate process of composting and organic waste maturity can guarantee its employment in agriculture with no damaging effects on either soil and plants. For this reason, stability, maturity and quality of a compost are essential facts to be taken into account by producers of compost and its consumers (1)

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