Third-party verified quality data you can trust
The Maturity Index is the industry-standard measure of how fully decomposed and biologically stable an organic material is. Developed and tested by Rutgers University, the index uses a scale of 1 to 8, where higher scores indicate greater stability and lower phytotoxic risk.
Our dark peat humus scores a perfect 8 out of 8 on the Maturity Index. This means the material is fully cured with zero phytotoxic risk and no usage limitations. You can apply it directly to seed beds, transplants, and sensitive crops without any concern about nitrogen drawdown, excessive heat, or toxic organic acids harming plant growth.
An 8/8 maturity score is uncommon among commercially available organic amendments and reflects the millions of years of natural decomposition that created our peat humus deposit, combined with our careful excavation and drying process.
Independent testing conducted by the Rutgers University Soil Testing Laboratory.
| Parameter | Result |
|---|---|
| Maturity Index | 8/8 (Fully Cured) |
| Organic Matter | 24.1% |
| Organic Carbon | 14% |
| C:N Ratio | 10:1 ("Very Good") |
| TKN (Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen) | 1.43% |
| pH | 4.41 |
| Description | Moist, black, highly humified organic matter |
Additional verification conducted by QCQA Labs for pH, organic content, and particle size distribution.
| Parameter | Result |
|---|---|
| Organic Content (Raw Samples) | 17.9% to 22.5% |
| Additional Tests | Available (see downloadable reports below) |
Access the full third-party reports for your records or to share with your team.
Our operation is fully permitted and regularly reviewed by state and federal agencies.
Mariaville Materials holds an active mining permit issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC). This permit ensures that our 95.5-acre peat mine operates in full compliance with state environmental regulations, including land reclamation plans, erosion controls, and environmental impact standards. Permitted operations mean every cubic yard of peat humus we sell is legally mined and environmentally accountable.
Our mining site has undergone review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency responsible for regulating activities in wetlands and waterways. These reviews verify that our operations comply with the Clean Water Act and other federal environmental protections. For buyers concerned about sourcing responsibly, this level of federal oversight provides an additional layer of assurance that our peat humus is harvested in an environmentally responsible manner.
When you purchase from Mariaville Materials, you receive a product backed by both state and federal regulatory oversight. Combined with our independent lab certifications from Rutgers University and QCQA Labs, you can be confident in the quality, consistency, and environmental responsibility of our dark peat humus.