Benefits of Composting

What is Compost?

Compost is the product resulting from the controlled biological decomposition of organic material that has been sanitized through the generation of heat and stabilized to the point that it is beneficial to plant growth. Compost bears little physical resemblance to the raw material from which it originated. Compost is an organic matter resource that has the unique ability to improve the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of soils or growing media. It contains plant nutrients but is typically not characterized as a fertilizer.

How is Compost Produced?

Compost is produced through the activity of aerobic (oxygen requiring) microorganisms. These microbes require oxygen, moisture, and food in order to grow and multiply. When these factors are maintained at optimal levels, the natural decomposition process is greatly accelerated. The microbes generate heat, water vapor, and carbon dioxide as they transform raw materials into a stable soil conditioner. Active composting is typically characterized by a high-temperature phase that sanitizes the product and allows a high rate of decomposition, followed by a lower-temperature phase that allows the product to stabilize while still decomposing at a lower rate. Compost can be produced from many “feedstocks” (the raw organic materials, such as leaves, manures or food scraps). State and federal regulations exist to ensure that only safe and environmentally beneficial composts are marketed.

Benefits of Compost and its Effects on Soils and Plants

Thanks to its many attributes, compost is extremely versatile and beneficial in many applications. Compost has the unique ability to improve the properties of soils and growing media physically (structurally), chemically (nutritionally), and biologically. Although some equate the benefit of compost use to lush green growth, caused by plant-available nitrogen, the real benefits of using compost are long-term and related to its organic matter content.

Benefits of Using Compost

- Improves the soil structure, porosity, and density, thus creating a better plant root environment.
- Increases infiltration and permeability of heavy soils, thus reducing erosion and runoff.
- Improves water holding capacity, thus reducing water loss and leaching in sandy soils.
- Supplies a variety of macro and micronutrients.
- May control or suppress certain soil-borne plant pathogens.
- Supplies significant quantities of organic matter.
- Improves cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soils and growing media, thus improving their ability to hold nutrients for plant use.
- Supplies beneficial microorganisms to soils and growing media.
- Improves and stabilizes soil pH.
- Can bind and degrade specific pollutants.

Physical Benefits

Improved Structure

Compost can greatly enhance the physical structure of soil. In fine-textured (clay, clay loam) soils, the addition of compost will reduce bulk density, improve friability (workability) and porosity, and increase its gas and water permeability, thus reducing erosion. When used in sufficient quantities, the addition of compost has both an immediate and long-term positive impact on soil structure. It resists compaction in fine-textured soils and increases water holding capacity and improves soil aggregation in coarse-textured (sandy) soils. The soil-binding properties of compost are due to its humus content. Humus is a stable residue resulting from a high degree of organic matter decomposition. The constituents of the humus act as a soil ‘glue,’ holding soil particles together, making them more resistant to erosion and improving the soil’s ability to hold moisture.

Moisture Management

The addition of compost may provide greater drought resistance and more efficient water utilization. Therefore, the frequency and intensity of irrigation may be reduced. Recent research also suggests that the addition of compost in sandy soils can facilitate moisture dispersion by allowing water to more readily move laterally from its point of application.

Chemical Benefits

Modifies and Stabilizes pH

The addition of compost to soil may modify the pH of the final mix. Depending on the pH of the compost and of the native soil, compost addition may raise or lower the soil/compost blend’s pH. Therefore, the addition of a neutral to slightly alkaline compost to an acidic soil will increase soil pH if added in appropriate quantities. In specific conditions, compost has been found to affect soil pH even when applied at quantities as low as 10-20 tons per acre. The incorporation of compost also has the ability to buffer or stabilize soil pH, whereby it will more effectively resist pH change.

Increases Cation Exchange Capacity

Compost will also improve the cation exchange capacity of soils, enabling them to retain nutrients longer. It will also allow crops to more effectively utilize nutrients, while reducing nutrient loss by leaching. For this reason, the fertility of soils is often tied to their organic matter content. Improving the cation exchange capacity of sandy soils by adding compost can greatly improve the retention of plant nutrients in the root zone.

Provides Nutrients

Compost products contain a considerable variety of macro and micronutrients. Although often seen as a good source of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, compost also contains micronutrients essential for plant growth. Since compost contains relatively stable sources of organic matter, these nutrients are supplied in a slow-release form. On a pound-by-pound basis, large quantities of nutrients are not typically found in compost in comparison to most commercial fertilizers. However, compost is usually applied at much greater rates; therefore, it can have a significant cumulative effect on nutrient availability. The addition of compost can affect both fertilizer and pH adjustment (lime/sulfur addition). Compost not only provides some nutrition, but often makes current fertilizer programs more effective.

Biological Benefits

Provides Soil Biota

The activity of soil organisms is essential in productive soils and for healthy plants. Their activity is largely based on the presence of organic matter. Soil microorganisms include bacteria, protozoa, actinomycetes, and fungi. They are not only found within compost, but proliferate within soil media. Microorganisms play an important role in organic matter decomposition which, in turn, leads to humus formation and nutrient availability. Microorganisms can also promote root activity as specific fungi work symbiotically with plant roots, assisting them in the extraction of nutrients from soils. Sufficient levels of organic matter also encourage the growth of earthworms, which through tunneling, increase water infiltration and aeration.

Suppresses Plant Disease

Disease incidence on many plants may be influenced by the level and type of organic matter and microorganisms present in soils. Research has shown that increased population of certain microorganisms may suppress specific plant diseases such as pythium and fusarium as well as nematodes. Efforts are being made to optimize the composting process in order to increase the population of these beneficial microbes.

Additional Benefits of Compost

Some additional benefits of compost have been identified, and has led to new uses for it. These benefits and uses are described below.

Binds Contaminants

Compost has the ability to bind heavy metals and other contaminants, reducing both their leachability and absorption by plants. Therefore, sites contaminated with various pollutants may often be improved by amending the native soil with compost. The same binding affect allows compost to be used as a filter media for storm water treatment and has been shown to minimize leaching of pesticides in soil systems.

Degrades Compounds

The microbes found in compost are also able to degrade some toxic organic compounds, including petroleum (hydrocarbons). This is one of the reasons why compost is being used in bioremediation of petroleum contaminated soils.

Wetland Restoration

Compost has also been used for the restoration of native wetlands. Rich in organic matter and microbial population, compost and soil/compost blends can closely simulate the characteristics of wetland soils, thereby encouraging the reestablishment of native plant species.

Erosion Control

Coarser composts have been used with great success as a mulch for erosion control and have been successfully used on sites where conventional erosion control methods have not performed well. In Europe, fine compost has been mixed with water and sprayed onto slopes to control erosion.

Weed Control

Immature composts or ones which possess substances detrimental to plant growth (phytotoxins), are also being tested as an alternative to plastic mulches for vegetable and fruit production. While aiding in moisture conservation and moderating soil temperatures, immature composts also can act as mild herbicides.

A Bright Future

With these many benefits and its myriad of applications, from the traditional growing of plants to novel uses in stormwater management and climate change mitigation, the production and use of compost has a bright future indeed!

Copyright © 2008 The United States Composting Council

US Composting Council

5400 Grosvenor Lane

Bethesda, MD 20814

phone: 301-897-2715 | fax: 301-530-5072

email: uscc@compostingcouncil.org

About the USCC: The United States Composting Council (USCC) is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to the development, expansion and promotion of the composting industry. For more information visit www.compostingcouncil.org