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Abstract: The application of spectroscopy for assessing mushroom compost quality has been investigated in collaboration with major compost producers in Northern Ireland and Ireland. Visible and near infrared calibrations for assessing raw materials, Phase I and II composts have been developed, using databases generated from industry production samples and compost comparative trials. The use of spectroscopy can improve quality control at each stage of production, provided the calibrations can be maintained and updated regularly. This requires regular assessment of the prediction errors and bias using new samples and if necessary re-calibration of the whole sample set, by incorporating additional new samples from production systems. The performance of the spectrometer needs to be monitored regularly, to detect degradation of the visible and near infrared light source. The aim of this paper is to highlight and discuss all practical steps needed for transferring this technology to a quality control laboratory.
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