title: Estimation of maturity of compost from food wastes and agro-residues by multiple regression analysis.
abstract: The composting process of food wastes and tree cuttings was examined on four composting types composed from two kinds of systems and added mixture of microorganisms. The time courses of 32 parameters in each composting type were observed. The efficient composting system was found to be the static aerated reactor system in comparison with the turning pile one. Using the multiple regression analysis of all the data (159 samples) obtained from this study, some parameters were selected to predict the germination index (GI) value, which was adopted as a marker of compost maturity. For example, using the regression model generated from pH, NH(4)(+) concentration, acid phosphatase activity, and esterase activity of water extracts of the compost, GI value was expressed by the multi-linear regression equation (p<0.0001). High correlations between the measured GI value and the predicted one were made in each type of compost. As a result of these observations, the compost maturity might be predicted by only sensing of the water extract at the composting site without any requirements for a large-size equipment and skill, and this prediction system could contribute to the production of a stable compost in wide-spread use for the recycling market.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1, Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1292, Japan.
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chikae
authors.forename: Ryuzoh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Kagan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kerman
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tamiya
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D001937:Brassica / Q000254:growth & development; D004950:Esterases / Q000032:analysis; D005502:Food; D018525:Germination / Q000502:physiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007564:Japan; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014866:Waste Products; D000641:Ammonia; D004950:Esterases; D000135:Acid Phosphatase