Long-term application of compost influences microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a tropical Aeric Endoaquept planted to rice under flooded condition

In a field study, long-term application of compost to a tropical Aeric Endoaquept under continuous rice growing in a rice-rice-fallow sequence resulted in the stimulation of microbial biomass and select soil enzyme activities. Mean seasonal soil microbial biomass-C (C_mic) increased by 42%, 39% and 89% in inorganic fertilizer, compost and compost+inorganic fertilizer treatments, respectively, over the unamended control. C_mic content was also influenced by the rice crop growth stage and was highest at maximum tillering stage irrespective of treatments and declined thereafter. Soil organic C (C_org) content showed highly significant positive correlation with dehydrogenase, urease, cellulase, β-glucosidase and fluorescein di-acetate (FDA) hydrolysis activity, and a positive but not significant correlation with invertase and amidase activity. C/N ratio which was lowest in unamended control plots showed a significant positive relationship with only the enzymes involved in C cycle. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that for prediction of both total organic C and total N, FDA hydrolysis activity contributed significantly for the variance and explained up to 85-96% variability. Results demonstrated that microbial biomass and soil enzyme activity is sensitive in discriminating between long-term organic residue amendment practices.     

Fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis,respiration and microbial biomass in freshly amended soils

The hydrolysis of the fluorescein diacetate (FDA), related to several soil hydrolases, has been utilised to estimate the potential microbial activity of soil freshly amended with a wide range of organic amendments and compared to the size and activity of soil microflora, measured by the microbial biomass C (B _C) and CO₂ evolution, respectively. Three different composting mixtures at different phases of the composting process were added to a semi-arid soil and incubated for 2 months under laboratory conditions. The addition of the organic amendment immediately increased B _C and both measures of microbial activity (FDA and CO₂ evolution). Highly significant correlations were found between FDA hydrolysis and B _C for soil amended with the three composting mixtures (r = 0.81–0.96; P < 0.01), regardless of the origin, composition and degree of stability of the organic amendments. FDA hydrolysis, conversely to CO₂ evolution, was unaffected by the disturbance caused by the soil amendment, indicating that the two parameters probably reflect different aspects of soil microbial activity. FDA hydrolysis could serve as an alternative estimation of the microbial biomass in freshly amended soils, despite the disturbance caused by the exogenous organic matter.     

Application of respiration and FDA hydrolysis measurements for estimating microbial activity during composting processes

Olive-tree leaves (OL) were mixed with olive press cake (OPC) and extracted olive press cake (EPC) at 1:1 dw/dw ratios to prepare two composting mixtures (OL+OPC and OL+EPC). Both CO₂–C evolution and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis, determined as estimates of the microbial activity during composting, were related to temperature fluctuations in the compost piles, showing greater values at the temperature peaks, compared to the end, of each thermophilic phase. This, however, was only shown after handling and incubating samples at the temperatures of the compost mixtures at the sampling times and not at a low standard temperature. Incubating samples from thermophilic phases at low standard temperatures resulted in underestimation of the microbial activity occurring during composting. The effect of incubation temperature was less dramatic for FDA hydrolysis compared to CO₂–C evolution measurements, probably reflecting the reduced dependence of enzymes involved in FDA hydrolysis on the respective temperatures. However, FDA hydrolysis was a less sensitive indicator of microbial activity, probably due to extracellular cleavage of fluorescein by persistent esterases, at lowered microbial activity phases. Total microbial biomass, estimated by the fumigation–extraction method, was not consistently related to temperature fluctuations during composting and showed a clear increase at the end of composting, probably resulting from a large slow-growing mycelial community colonising the end products. Since high temperatures did not induce significant non-microbial CO₂–C release and FDA degradation, we propose the performance of microbial activity measurements during thermophilic composting phases at the actual temperatures evolving in the composts.     

Evolution of Biochemical Parameters During Composting of Urban Wastes

An experiment was performed for evaluating the most suitable biochemical parameters to measure dynamics of substrate transformation during composting of the organic fraction derived from preselected urban wastes and wood bark mixture. Changes of chemical (organic C, hydrosoluble sugars, total and mineral N, humified fraction, volatile acids and phenolic compounds) and biochemical (microbial respiration, biomass C, qCO₂, dehydrogenase, catalase, urease activities, FDA, and BIF) parameters were monitored for 120 days. Limited changes in organic C, total nitrogen, and humification characteristics were observed during composting. Dehydrogenase and catalase activities, BIF and FDA showed small changes during composting. Urease activity and, with some limitations regarding the early stages of composting, microbial respiration and qCO₂, were found to be the most suitable parameters to measure dynamics of substrate transformation during composting of preselected urban wastes.     

Relating Compost Measures of Stability And Maturity to Plant Growth

Assessment of compost maturity is important for successful use of composts in agricultural and horticultural production. We assessed the “maturity” of four different sawdust-based composts. We composted sawdust with either cannery waste (CW), duck manure (DM), dairy (heifer) manure (HM) or potato culls (PC) for approximately one year. Windrows were turned weekly for the first 60 days of composting, covered for four winter months and then turned monthly for six more months. We measured compost microbial respiration (CO₂ loss), total C and N, C:N ratio, water soluble NO₃-N and NH₄-N, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), pH and electrical conductivity at selected dates over 370 days. Compost effects on ryegrass biomass and N uptake were evaluated in a greenhouse study. We related compost variables to ryegrass growth and N uptake using regression analysis. All composts maintained high respiration rates during the first 60 days of composting. Ammonium-N concentrations declined within the first 60 days of composting, while NO₃-N concentrations did not increase until 200+ days. After 250+ days, DM and PC composts produced significantly more ryegrass biomass than either CW or HM composts. Total C, microbial respiration and water-extractable NO₃-N were good predictors of compost stability/maturity, or compost resistance to change, while dissolved organic carbon, C:N ratio and EC were not. The compost NO₃-N/CO₂-C ratio was calculated as a parameter reflecting the increase in net N mineralization and the decrease in respiration rate. At ratio values >8 mg NO₃-N/mg CO₂-C/day, ryegrass growth and N uptake were at their maximum for three of the four composts, suggesting the ratio has potential as a useful index of compost maturity.     

Chemical and microbiological parameters for the characterisation of the stability and maturity of pruning waste compost

Composting of pruning waste, leaves and grass clippings was monitored by different parameters. A windrow composting pile, having the dimensions 2.5 m (height) x 30 m (length) was establish. The maturation of pruning waste compost was accompanied by a decline in NH₄ ⁺-N concentration, water soluble C (WSC) and an increase in NO₃ ^–-N content. Both organic matter (OM) content and total N (TN) losses during composting followed a first-order kinetic equation. These results were in agreement with the microbiological activity measured either by the CO₂ respiration or dehydrogenase (DH-ase) activity during the process. Statistically significant correlations were found between DH-ase activity, easily biodegradable organic C forms, NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N concentrations and organic matter content and N losses. For this reason, DH-ase activity and the CO₂ evolution could be used as good indicators of pruning waste compost maturity. In contrast, humification parameters data from the organic matter fractionation did not agree with the initially expected values and did not contribute to the assessment of compost maturity. Neither the cation exchange capacity nor the germination index showed a clear tendency during the composting time, suggesting that these parameters are not suitable for evaluating the dynamics of the process.     

Physical,Chemical and Biological Properties of an Accelerated Cassava Based Compost Prepared Using Different Ratios of Cassava Peels and Poultry Manure

Monitoring the physical, chemical and biological properties during accelerated composting enables concise determination of its stability and maturity. Determination of physical parameters such as pH, moisture and temperature, chemical parameters such as total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), organic matter and humic acid as well as biological parameters such as microbial count and carbon dioxide (CO₂) evolution was carried out during a four (4) week composting period, The trend observed for pH showed the mesophilic and thermophilic phases and a similar trend was observed for the compost temperature. Intermittent increase and decrease was observed for total N, P, K as well as for the fungal and bacterial population. A direct relationship was observed among the bacterial population, CO₂ evolution and humic acid. However, composting for four (4) weeks produced a stable compost, which was evident through the physical observation of the final product and the results obtained for the chemical and biological parameters.     

Evaluation of Parameters During Composting of Two Contrasting Raw Materials

The aims of this work were: i) to evaluate, during a composting process, some parameters in two contrasting raw materials: one a ligneous material (C1) and the other (C2) a mixture of horse and poultry manure with a low straw percentage and ii) to compare results from microbiological and chemical analyses of both composting material during the process. Total carbon, total nitrogen, C: N ratio, ash, organic matter, organic matter destroyed, CEC, soluble organic carbon, soluble ammonium and nitrate, ammonium: nitrate ratio and respiration rate were evaluated during 18 weeks. C1 material showed a lower rate of organic matter mineralization probably due to the high proportion of ligneous material. This material reached a greater CEC during the experiment. Increase in CEC during composting is due to conversion of the remaining organic material into humic substances. These results would imply that C1 presented a greater humification level and consequently, a better quality. On the other hand, the greater decrease in soluble organic carbon and NH₄⁺-N values in C2 is in accordance with greater organic matter mineralization. A high decrease in soluble fractions, especially the more degradable ones (water soluble components) indicates a high mineralization of the organic matter during composting and a lower humification level. According to the data obtained in our experiment, some parameters such as CEC, soluble organic carbon and soluble NH₄⁺-N seem to achieve the stability level for both studied materials, while those parameters or indices such as C: N ratio, NH₄⁺-N: NO₃^?-N ratio indicated stability/maturity only in C2 material during the experimental time.     

Transformations of carbon and nitrogen during composting of animal manure and shredded paper

Composts produced from animal manures and shredded paper were characterized in terms of their carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) forms and C mineralization. Total, water-soluble, acid-hydrolyzable and non-hydrolyzable C and N contents were determined on composts sampled on days 0, 11, 18, 26, 33, 40 and 59 after composting was initiated. Water-soluble and acid-hydrolyzable C and N decreased during composting, whereas non-hydrolyzable C remained relatively constant, and non-hydrolyzable N greatly increased during composting. The water-soluble forms of N were characterized by a decrease of ammomium (NH₄ ⁺-N) at the beginning of composting, followed by an increase of nitrate (NO₃ ^–-N) towards the end of composting. The mineralization of C in composted materials was generally higher at the beginning than at the end of composting, whereas no differences were observed for mineralization of C in non-hydrolyzable materials. The addition of N inhibited C mineralization in composts except in samples collected on days 40 and 59, while C mineralization was strongly stimulated by adding N to the non-hydrolyzable materials. The data suggest that the N forms in the non-hydrolyzable materials were chemically similar and not readily available to microbes, indicating that the C/N ratios often used to assess the biodegradability of organic matter and to develop compost formulations should be based on biologically available N and C and not on total N and C. Received: 12 May 1997     

Assessment of Biotransformation of Sludge from Vegetable Oil Refining by Composting

The evolution of organic matter of sludge from vegetable oil refining (50%) mixed with turf (40%) and straw (10%) during 6 months of composting was evaluated by physicochemical and spectroscopy analysis. The intense microbial activity is characterized by a significant increase in temperature (over 67°C) during the thermophilic phase (7 days). The final product is characterized by a decomposition rate of 50, C/N ratio about 12, NH₄⁺/NO₃^? ratio less than 1, and a neutral pH. The lipid analysis showed that total lipids decreased by 83% as a result of biodegradation of lipid compounds of the composted substrate. The degree of polymerization during composting is of about 16%, which provides information on the success of the process. The spectroscopic analysis showed a decrease of the ratios E4/E6 and E2/E6, which clearly shows the humification of organic matter. The physicochemical and spectroscopy parameters of the mixture show the stability and maturity of the final compost, which is confirmed by the germination index (60% for lettuce and turnips, and 90% for cress and lucerna). The results of the evolution of sludge from vegetable oil refining mixed with green wastes produced a mature product that can be applied in agriculture.     

减氮配施有机物质对麦田土壤性质和小麦产量的影响

探究氮肥减量配施有机物质的情况下对氮素利用状况及土壤肥力和小麦产量的影响,为我国华北平原区小麦生产中提高氮肥利用效率、实现节肥增效提供理论基础。通过田间试验,设置5个处理：不施氮肥(CK)、农民习惯施氮肥(FN)、减氮20%(80%FN)、减氮20%+生物有机肥(80%FN+OM)、减氮20%+生物炭(80%FN+BC),研究小麦生长关键期土壤容重、有机质、NO₃^-—N和土壤微生物多样性的变化,测定小麦产量并计算氮素利用效率。结果表明,土壤容重受施入有机物质影响显著,成熟期0—20,20—40 cm的80%FN+OM、80%FN+BC的土壤容重较80%FN分别下降3.83%～4.58%和2.96%～5.07%。成熟期0—40 cm的土壤有机质均以80%FN+OM最高,较其他施氮肥处理提高2.13%～18.81%。土壤NO₃^-—N受施氮肥影响显著,挑旗期80%FN+OM和80%FN+BC处理的0—40 cm土壤NO₃^-—N较高;灌浆期80%FN+BC处理的0...     

微生物菌剂对油枯堆肥过程中理化性质的影响研究

以油枯为基本原料,采用好氧堆肥方式进行堆肥试验,研究了添加4种不同微生物菌剂的条件下,油枯-稻壳-甘蔗渣堆肥体系中pH、C/N、水溶性NO3--N、水溶性NH4＋-N中的动态变化规律及菌剂对高温堆肥腐熟进程的影响。结果表明,添加菌剂能有效缩短堆肥到达高温的时间,延长高温分解阶段,加快物料水溶性NH4＋-N和C/N降低,pH和水溶性NO3--N含量升高,加快了油枯堆肥腐熟化进程。添加VT菌剂的堆肥处理相比其他在堆肥15d后最先进入高温分解阶段,高温持续时间为10d,提早5d腐熟,水溶性NO3--N含量从71.41mg.kg-1增加到887.4mg.kg-1,C/N的降低有效促进了NH4＋-N向NO3--N的转化,加快了油枯堆肥化进程,有助于提高堆肥腐熟化程度,说明添加VT菌剂的堆肥腐熟效果相对显著。     

碳氮比对鸡粪堆肥腐熟度和臭气排放的影响

为确定鸡粪堆肥最优碳氮比（C/N比）,该研究以新鲜鸡粪为堆肥原料,添加玉米秸秆调节初始C/N比为14、18和22进行好氧堆肥,研究不同C/N比对鸡粪堆肥腐熟度和臭气排放（NH3和H2S）的影响。结果表明：C/N比为14的处理堆肥产品未腐熟,C/N比为18和22的处理均达到腐熟。C/N比为18的处理NH3累积排放量和总氮（TN）损失率最高;C/N比为18～22时,C/N比越高,NH3累积排放量和TN损失率越低。C/N比为14的处理H2S累积排放量和总硫（TS）损失率最高;C/N比为18和22的两个处理,H2S累积排放量显著降低,且无显著差异。此外,C/N比为18处理的微生物群落多样性在整个堆肥过程中显著高于C/N比为14和22处理。堆肥的理化指标、臭气排放与微生物群落之间的相关性分析表明,高温、高pH和缺氧环境会增加Firmicutes丰度,进而促进NH3和H2S的排放,相反地,低温、低pH和氧气充足的环境更有利于Actinobacteria增殖,有利于减少NH3和H2S的排放。综合考虑堆肥产品腐熟度和臭气减排效果,建议低C/N比鸡粪堆肥的初始C/N比为18～22。当秸秆资源不足时,建议初始C/N比为18;秸秆资源充足时,建议初始C/N比为22。     

Agricultural waste-based composts exhibiting suppressivity to diseases caused by the phytopathogenic soil-borne fungi Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia minor

On-farm composting is an efficient, environmentally safe and cost-effective process for recycle vegetable residues into productive cycles. Benefits of these composts could include their ability to mediate soil-borne plant pathogen suppression with a significant impact on eco-friendly crop management. In this work, on-farm composts were assayed for ability to control, both in vitro and in vivo, damping-off causing pathogens Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia minor. Tomato and escarole-derived compost was the most suppressive and, furthermore, together with that derived from artichoke wastes, exhibited multi-suppressive activity. Compost communities, characterized at metabolic and global levels by Biolog system, microbial counting, CO₂-release and FDA hydrolysis rate, play a major role in compost-based biological control. The complete biotic inactivation by autoclaving composts, has, in fact, reduced or eliminated their ability in pathogen suppression. Solid state ¹³C CPMAS-NMR spectroscopy revealed that spectral areas typical for phenolic C, as well as methoxyl C, may be associated to suppressivity mechanism(s). These evidences suggested that the ecological relationships between organic carbon molecular distribution and microbial structure may contribute to discriminate suppressive composts from null and conducive ones. Nutritional microniches in compost may then have profound effects on the community functions, including those linked to the suppressiveness.     

Microbial biomass and activity in salt affected soils under arid conditions

The effects of salinity on the size, activity and community structure of soil microorganisms in salt affected arid soils were investigated in Shuangta region of west central Anxi County, Gansu Province, China. Eleven soils were selected which had an electrical conductivity (EC) gradient of 0.32–23.05 mS cm⁻¹. There was a significant negative exponential relationship between EC and microbial biomass C, the percentage of soil organic C present as microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N, microbial biomass N to total N ratio, basal soil respiration, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis rate, arginine ammonification rate and potentially mineralizable N. The exponential relationships with EC demonstrate the highly detrimental effect that soil salinity had on the microbial community. In contrast, the metabolic quotient (qCO₂) was positively correlated with EC, and a quadratic relationship between qCO₂ and EC was observed. There was an inverse relationship between qCO₂ and microbial biomass C. These results indicate that higher salinity resulted in a smaller, more stressed microbial community which was less metabolically efficient. The biomass C to biomass N ratio tended to be lower in soils with higher salinity, reflecting the bacterial dominance in microbial biomass in saline soils. Consequently, our data suggest that salinity is a stressful environment for soil microorganisms.     

Effects of aeration and moisture during windrow composting on the nitrogen fertilizer values of dairy waste composts

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of turning and moisture addition during windrow composting on the N fertilizer values of dairy waste composts. Composted-dairy wastes were sampled from windrow piles, which received four treatments in a 2×2 factorial of turning (turning vs. no turning) and moisture addition (watering vs. no watering) at two stages of maturity (mature vs. immature). Composts were characterized for their chemical properties. An 84-day laboratory incubation of soils with addition of the composts at two levels was conducted to evaluate the inorganic N accumulation patterns from the variously treated composts. Chemical analyses of variously treated composts did not differ between compost treatments or maturity. In contrast, the inorganic N accumulation patterns differed between soils that received immature versus mature turned composted-dairy wastes. The results suggested that turning was a more important factor than moisture addition affecting the composting process. There was no significant difference in inorganic N accumulation patterns among soils that received different immature composts, while the N accumulation patterns observed for soils that received different mature composts depended on compost treatments. Soils amended with mature composts treated by frequent turning had higher N mineralization potentials (N₀), mineralization rate constants (K), and initial potential rates (N₀K) in comparison to soils with composts that had not been turned. Soils with mature composts treated by watering had a higher N₀, lower K, and therefore similar N₀K when compared to soils with composts that had not been watered. Soils that received mature composts treated by watering and frequent turning had higher N mineralization potentials and N₀ to total organic N ratios than soil alone, which suggested that intensive management of composting would ensure positive N fertilizer values of dairy waste composts, if the appropriate composting duration is completed.     

Determining Optimal Maturity of Compost Used for Land Application

A stable compost is needed in plant growth media. However, when compost is land applied, its effect is through the initiation and acceleration of microbial processes leading to the production of soil stabilizing agents.

It was proposed that there is an optimum degree of maturity of compost used for land application, a degree characterized by the reduction of the labile organic matter to a point when the material is relatively stable yet is still active enough to support an increased microbial activity in the soil.

The effect of composting time on the efficiency of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) to improve soil structural properties, evaluated through laboratory indexes, is presented in this work. MSWC was sampled immediately following 24 hours precomposting in a Dano drum. Samples were taken throughout 60 days of windrow composting. The compost samples were mixed with a structure-impaired loess soil and incubated aerobically for 21 days. Hydraulic conductivity and residual turbidity, a measure of microaggregate stability, were measured in solutions of two SAR levels, five and 20. Compost application had a positive effect on these soil structural properties. The optimal activity was obtained for the compost sampled following seven to 14 days of windrow composting. Polysaccharide concentrations also followed a similar optimum curve. The peak concentration was found following 14 to 30 days old compost application.

The determination of the optimal maturity of composted municipal solid wastes is essential toward an efficient utilization of the compost, toward satisfaction of environmental constraints and for a cost-efficient operation of composting plants. The present preliminary study calls for more research in this field.     

嗜热复合菌对堆肥品质及微生物群落演替的影响

  【目的】  研究嗜热复合菌对畜禽粪污堆肥理化特性和腐熟度的影响,探讨嗜热菌影响堆肥过程的微生物机制。  【方法】  堆料由75%羊粪和25%养鸡发酵床垫料构成,初始原料C/N为28,堆料量1.2 t,高度70～90 cm,开放条垛式堆沤。处理组为堆肥添加0.1%嗜热菌B. fordii FJAT-51578和U. thermosphaericus FJAT-51579等比混合的发酵液,对照组为添加1%市售枯草芽孢杆菌堆肥菌剂(Bacillus subtilis)。堆肥时间为2021年9月18日—10月14日,每两天检测1次温度。堆肥前15天,每两天进行一次翻抛,后期每5天进行一次翻抛,保持堆肥含水量50%～60%,直至高温期结束。在堆肥开始后第1、9和26天取堆肥样品,分析氮磷含量、硝化指数和种子发芽指数。结合扩增子测序,分析堆肥细菌群落结构变化,并揭示其主要环境影响因子。采用PICRUSt分析堆肥有效氮和有效磷代谢的微生物机制。  【结果】  嗜热复合菌添加促进堆肥硝化指数的降低和种子发芽指数的升高,促进堆肥腐熟;堆肥产物碱解氮和有效磷的含量分别比市售菌剂组高11.8%和7.7%。同时,嗜热复合菌的添加改变了细菌群落的分布,降低了堆肥细菌的多样性和丰富度,提高了糖单胞菌、链霉菌和嗜热葡萄孢菌等降解菌的丰度。RDA分析表明,pH和C/N是影响堆肥微生物群落多样性的主要因素,碱解氮与芽孢杆菌和糖单胞菌属丰度正相关,有效磷与嗜热裂孢菌、直丝菌属和马杜拉放线菌属丰度正相关。氮、磷代谢相关京都基因和基因组百科全书同源基因(KO)的PICRUSt分析显示,微生物氮磷循环相关KO的丰度随着堆肥进程均有所增加。添加嗜热菌剂提高了氨化、铵同化、硝酸盐同化、同化/异化硝酸盐还原等氮循环相关KO,及无机磷溶解、酸性磷酸酶和碱性磷酸酶等磷循环相关KO。  【结论】  在畜禽粪污堆肥中添加嗜热复合菌剂加快并延长了高温期,降低了C/N,提高了堆肥中碱解氮和有效磷含量,其中C/N、硝化指数和GI指数等指标在堆肥中期达腐熟程度标准,促进堆肥腐熟。堆肥中添加嗜热复合菌剂增加了细菌氮磷代谢相关KO的表达,提高了腐熟中期堆肥中嗜热菌的丰度和种类,碱解氮与芽孢杆菌和糖单胞菌属丰度呈正相关,有效磷与嗜热裂孢菌、直丝菌属和马杜拉放线菌属丰度正相关。因此,添加嗜热复合菌促进了堆肥有效氮磷的含量。     

13C solid-state NMR assessment of decomposition pattern during co-composting of sewage sludge and green wastes

The fate of organic matter during composting is poorly understood. Therefore, we analysed composts of sewage sludges and green wastes (44 samples representative of 11 stages of biodegradation) by conventional chemical methods: pH, humic (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) content, C, N and organic matter (OM) content, and by ¹³C CPMAS NMR to assess the decomposition process of the organic matter. Chemical changes clearly occurred in two phases: first, decomposition of OM during the first 2 months was characterized by decreased C/N ratios, OM content and increased pH; and second, a humification process with increased HA/FA ratios. NMR spectrum changes confirmed this pattern, with an increase in aromaticity and a decrease in alkyl C. A decrease of syringyl to guaiacyl ratio (S/G), a sign of lignin transformation, also indicated humification during composting. NMR spectroscopic properties of composts were also studied by means of principal components analysis (PCA) and revealed changes according to the degree of compost maturation. The factorial map presents a chronological distribution of composts on the two first principal components. The influences of eight chemical factors on the PCA ordination of composts as monitored by their evolution by NMR were also studied by multivariate analyses. PCA clearly indicated two phases: the rapid decomposition of organic matter followed by the formation of humic‐like substances. The first phase, that is ‘new’ composts, was strongly correlated with OM contents, pH and C/N ratios whereas the second phase, corresponding to ‘old’ compost, was correlated with pH, HA content and HA/FA ratio. These results confirm that knowledge of the formation of humic substances is indispensable to suitable monitoring of the composting process.