Composting
Benefits of Composting
- Compost improves the structure of the soil by adding
organic matter.
In sandy soil, compost holds moisture and helps to
hold soil together. In heavy clay soil, compost particles bind with
clay particles to form larger particles.
- Compost attracts earthworms.
Worm tunnels aerate the soil, improve drainage and
bring up minerals from the subsoil. Earthworm activity contributes
to good soil structure.
- Compost is a soil conditioner.
It releases small amounts of plant nutrients and
essential trace elements slowly throughout the growing season. It
also helps latch onto nutrients added in the form of fertilizer and
prevents them from leaching out of the soil. Some chemical
fertilizers release elements so quickly that rain can leach them
away before plants derive much benefit.
- Compost improves soil health.
Compost has been shown in some research trials to
reduce plant diseases; suppressing or controlling some soil-borne
plant pathogens.
Adding compost to the soil improves the water
penetration and retention capacity of soil, and erosion and run-off
are reduced thus conserving water.
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