@article{PAR00001172,
  title = {{D}oes the methoxyl group content of the humic acid-like fraction of composts provide a criterion to evaluate their maturity ?},
  author = {{L}arr{\'e}-{L}arrouy, {M}arie-{C}hristine and {T}huri{\`e}s, {L}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}o be considered beneficial, nutrient-rich, and be applied safely to soil, a batch of compost should be assessed for its maturity. {W}e tested a new method to follow the time course of maturation on a compost consisting of sheep manure, grape and coffee by-products. {T}his method was based upon the content of the humic acid-like compost fraction in methoxyl (-{OCH}3) groups, functional groups characteristic of lignin structural units. {I}t involved the conversion of {OCH}3 groups to the corresponding alkyl iodide ({ICH}3) groups by treatment with boiling hydriodic acid, before gas chromatography determination. {A}mong the various characteristics studied (ash, organic {C}, {N}, lignin), the {OCH}3 content appeared to be a good tracer of compost maturity. (c) 2006 {E}lsevier {L}td. {A}ll rights reserved.},
  keywords = {compost maturity ; lignin ; methoxyl groups ; humic acid like fraction},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}oil {B}iology and {B}iochemistry},
  volume = {38},
  numero = {9},
  pages = {2976--2979},
  ISSN = {0038-0717},
  year = {2006},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.04.025},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00001172},
}