Maturation in composting process, an incipient humification-like step as multivariate statistical analysis of spectroscopic data shows

Humification is a process that plant and microbiota residues experiment in natural or agronomic soils under microorganisms action and environmental conditions. Under this process natural biomolecules - such as protein, carbohydrates or lignin – experience secondary biochemical and chemical reactions yielding to the formation of new organic biomolecules normally known as soil humus or humic substances (HS). In parallel, composting of fresh organic residues may be seen as an artificial process that involves many microorganism-induced secondary biochemical reactions that are probably also included in the first steps of natural humification in soils.