CQI – For Grading Quality of Composts

Abstract

 Organic soil management has become the pressing need today for reversing the cycle of soil 
degradation and thereby putting a step forward towards soil and crop sustainability. Adverse effects of 
modern agricultural practices not only on the farm but also on the health of all living things and thus on the 
environment have been well documented all over the world. 
After years of chemical fertilizer use, many Indian farmers are beginning to return to organic fertilizers. 
Vermicompost is a nutritive organic fertiliser rich in NKP, micronutrients like calcium (Ca), magnesium 
(Mg), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn), humic acid, acceptable C:N ratio etc. The problem of quality control 
is a major limitation to the efficient use of compost in modern commercial agriculture, it is very difficult to 
standardize and characterize the finished products. Compost Quality Index (CQI), using four specific 
compost quality parameters viz. total nutrient content, C/N ratio, microbial potential and germination 
percent, is the best way to classify the quality of different types of compost as good, moderate, poor etc. for 
easy understanding at the users’ level.