Using compost in agriculture made from recycled resourses is sustainable and can increase soil organic matter and water holding capacity. Compost contains slow release nitrogen, phosphate and sulphur. It contains readily available potash that can provide all the crop’s needs plus smaller but useful amounts of magnesium, calcium and trace elements. Compost has a small neutralising value and is about 10% as effective as limestone, tonne for tonne dry matter. Compost can therefore stabilise soil pH and reduce the acidifying effects of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers.

 

The organic matter in compost is able to confer many benefits including:

 

 

 

             Improved soil aggregation and structure;

 

             Improved water infiltration and water                       holding capacity;

 

             Increased soil cation exchange capacity                in light soils;

 

             Reduced leaching of nutrients

Compost also contains beneficial micro-organisms. These are able to contribute to a healthy soil in terms of improved nutrient cycling and disease suppression.

 

Compost may be used at rates of up to 30 to 35 tonnes per hectare which will provide approximately 250kg/ha of total nitrogen.  This rate will also provide approximately 100kg/ha phosphate, 200kg/ha potash, 60kg/ha magnesium and 33 kg/ha sulphur as S, based on typical compost analysis.