Assessment of the maturity and biological parameters of compost produced from dairy manure and rice chaff by excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy

► Physico-chemical, biological and spectroscopic parameters were all monitored during composting. ► EEM fluorescence spectroscopy was applied to evaluate compost maturity. ► EEM fluorescence spectroscopy was applied to evaluate bacterial community structure and dynamics of compost. ► A convenient, inexpensive and sensitive method was developed to evaluate compost maturity and biological parameters.