Compost is of high value in agriculture and horticulture for improving soil structure and water retention property of the soil and for supplying plant nutrients as compost finally breaks down to mineral matter.
Compost is a good fertilizer that can be used to increase soil fertility in a long-term basis. This is because it contains both nutrients and organic matter. Using compost as means to improve soil fertility is possible but in that case, you need a large quantity of compost.
Read Also: The Practice of Composting Organic Waste Materials
The Following are the major benefits of compositing organic waste materials;
Safe storage and handling – Composting provides a mean of storing organic materials until they are applied. It makes easier handling because of volume reduction (30-50%)
Supply of a variety of macro and micronutrients.
Nitrogen competition avoidance –For high C: N residues, nitrate depression occurs in the compost pile, not in the field
Nitrogen stabilization – Composting can reduce nitrate leaching from low C: N residues particularly co-composting low C: N materials with high C: N materials.
It improves soil cation exchange capacity (CEC).
Improves soil structure and related physical properties.
Sterilization – High temperature during the thermophilic phase in well-managed compost piles kills most seeds and pathogenic organisms.
Detoxification – Most toxic compounds in organic waste (pesticides, natural phytotoxic chemicals ,etc.) are destroyed by the time compost matures.
It supplies beneficial organisms to the soil.
It may suppress some soil-borne diseases (through microbial antagonisms).
In summary, composting is the decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms to produce a stable substance called humus.
There are three stages that are involved in composting: heating, cooling ,and maturation; each stage is catalyzed by a different microorganisms.
Good composting practice entails the use of materials that have both high and low C/N ratios. The art of composting involves providing conditions that are conducive for microorganisms to thrive.
There are two main types of composting: pit and surface/stack also similar principles are employed. Compost has benefits in many ways in soil.
