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Compost and Green Manuring

Compost is the aerobically decomposed remnants of organic matter. Compost is used in landscaping, horticulture and agriculture as a soil conditioner and fertilizer. It is also useful for erosion control, land/stream reclamation, wetland construction, and as landfill cover. Compost is a growing medium: a porous, absorbent material which holds moisture and soluble minerals, providing the support and nutrients in which most plants will flourish. To maximize plant growth, it is sometimes necessary to add neutralizers to bring the pH closer to 7, additional nutrients like fertilizers or manure, wetting agents, and materials to improve drainage and aeration, such as sand, grit, bark chips, vermiculite, perlite, or clay granules.

Given enough time, all biodegradable material will compost. However, most domestic systems will not reach sufficiently high temperatures to kill pathogens and weed seeds or deter vermin, so pet droppings, non-vegetarian animal manure, scraps of meat, and dairy products are often best left to operators of high-rate, thermophilic composting systems. Vegetable kitchen and garden waste however, is an excellent raw material for home composting.

Green Manuring

Green manuring is the plowing under or soil incorporation of any green manure crops while they are green or soon after they flower: Green manures are forage or leguminous crops that are grown for their leafy materials needed for soil conservation. Advantages of green manuring are as follows:

  1. Improves the soil fertility
  2. Add nutrients and organic matters
  3. Improves the soil structure
  4. Improves soil aeration
  5. Helps control insect/mite pests, nematodes, and diseases
  6. Helps control weeds
  7. Promotes habitat for natural enemies
  8. Increases soil biodiversity by stimulating the growth of beneficial microbes and other soil organisms