Biomaturity of a compost is essential for its optimal use as a soil amendment and a source of plant nutrients. Immature composts pose problems of mal odours and fire during storage; flies and bagbursting during marketing; and phytotoxicity and pollution during use.Determination of the biomaturity of a compost, however, is a difficult task because of the complexities of the process, and a lack of comprehension or appreciation of many of its aspects.This article reviews more than twenty five tests that have been proposed for testing the biomaturity of composts. Concluding that none is adequate by itself, the authors propose an experimental approach for evolving a single, facile and reliable test based on the science of composting. Subsequent parts of this series report on the results of the proposed experimentation.
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ABSTRACT. Radiocarbon dating and carbon isotope analyses of deep peat and gases in a small ombrogenous peatland in northwestern Ontario reveals the presence of old gases at depth that are 1000-2000 yr younger than the enclosing peat.We suggest that the most likely explanation to account for this age discrepancy is the downward movement by advection of younger dissolved organic carbon for use by fermentation and methanogens bacteria. This study identifies a potentially large supply of old carbon gases in peatlands that should be considered in global carbon models of the terrestrial biosphere.
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