Compost is a mixture of ingredients used as plant fertilizer and to improve soil's physical,
chemical, and biological properties. It is commonly prepared by decomposing plant and
food waste, recycling organic materials, and manure. The resulting mixture is rich in
plant nutrients and beneficial organisms, such as bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, and
fungi. Compost improves soil fertility in gardens, landscaping, horticulture, urban agriculture,
and organic farming, reducing dependency on commercial chemical fertilizers. [1] The
benefits of compost include providing nutrients to crops as fertilizer, acting as a soil
conditioner, increasing the humus or humic acid contents of the soil, and introducing
beneficial microbes that help to suppress pathogens in the soil and reduce soil-borne
diseases.
Community-level composting in a rural area
in Germany
At the simplest level, composting requires gathering a mix of "greens" (green waste)
and "browns" (brown waste).[1] Greens are materials rich in nitrogen, such as leaves,
grass, and food scraps.[1] Browns are woody materials rich in carbon, such as stalks,
paper, and wood chips.[1] The materials break down into humus in a process taking
months.[2] Composting can be a multistep, closely monitored process with measured
inputs of water, air, and carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials. The decomposition process
is aided by shredding the plant matter, adding water, and ensuring proper aeration by
regularly turning the mixture in a process using open piles or "windrows".[1]
[3] Fungi, earthworms, and other detritivores further break up the organic material. Aerobic
bacteria and fungi manage the chemical process by converting the inputs into
heat, carbon dioxide, and ammonium ions.
Composter made from a hollow log
Composting is an important part of waste management, since food and other
compostable materials make up about 20% of waste in landfills, and due to anaerobic
conditions, these materials take longer to biodegrade in the landfill. [4][5] Composting
offers an environmentally superior alternative to using organic material for landfill
because composting reduces methane emissions due to anaerobic conditions, and
provides economic and environmental co-benefits. [6][7] For example, compost can also
be used for land and stream reclamation, wetland construction, and landfill cover.
