Compost is a blend of ingredients utilized as plant nourishment and to enhance the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil. It is typically created by breaking down plant and food waste, repurposing organic materials, and incorporating manure. The resulting amalgamation is teeming with plant nutrients and beneficial organisms like bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, and fungi. This enriches soil fertility in various settings including gardens, landscaping, horticulture, urban agriculture, and organic farming, reducing reliance on commercial chemical fertilizers. The advantages of compost encompass supplying nutrients to crops as fertilizer, conditioning soil, augmenting soil humus or humic acid levels, and introducing helpful microbes that aid in suppressing soil pathogens and diminishing soil-borne diseases.

At its core, composting involves assembling a blend of “greens” (nitrogen-rich waste) and “browns” (carbon-rich waste). Greens consist of materials abundant in nitrogen, such as leaves, grass, and food scraps, while browns encompass woody materials rich in carbon, like stalks, paper, and wood chips. Over the course of several months, these materials decompose into humus. Composting can be a meticulous, multi-step process involving careful monitoring and measured inputs of water, air, carbon, and nitrogen-rich materials. Shredding plant matter, adding water, and ensuring adequate aeration by regularly turning the mixture, whether through open piles or windrows, facilitate the decomposition process. Fungi, earthworms, and other detritivores further aid in breaking down organic material. Aerobic bacteria and fungi play a pivotal role in managing the chemical process by converting inputs into heat, carbon dioxide, and ammonium ions.

Composting holds significant importance in waste management, as approximately 20% of waste in landfills consists of compostable materials. These materials degrade at a slower pace in landfills due to anaerobic conditions. Composting presents an environmentally preferable alternative to landfilling organic material, as it curtails methane emissions stemming from anaerobic conditions and offers economic and environmental benefits. Additionally, compost finds utility in land and stream reclamation, wetland construction, and landfill cover.