Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
11.5.2
Benefits of Bio-compost
1. Rich and quality manure from crop and animal residues present at the farm. Ben-
eficial microorganisms and nutrients exist in the manure.
2. Due to the continuous application of the bio-compost physical, chemical and
biological properties of the soil can be improved.
3. Due to the improvement in soil fertility, quality products can be obtained from
the crop.
4. Bio diversity of soil can be improved by enhancing soil organic matter content
by the application of compost as mulching or as in potting media is also benefi-
cial in many ways.
Compost contains almost all essential plant nutrients. Nutrient level could be tested
in the compost and soil to realize what kind of other nutrients may be required for
plants.
• Macro- and micro-nutrients are present in the compost while they may be absent
in chemical fertilizers.
• Compost release nutrients gradually for months or years unlike chemical fertil-
izers.
• Soil applied with compost retains fertilizer. Reduce fertilizer run off and ulti-
mately reduce waterways pollution.
• Compost neutralizes both the acid and alkaline soils, make nutrients availability
to plants by maintaining the neutral pH.
Compost perform role as binding agent of soil particles by which soil structure is
improved. These soils posses good pore space percentage which holds air, moisture
and nutrients.
• Compost makes physical condition of sandy soil good enough to maintain water
and nutrients.
• Tightly bound clay particles could be loosened by the application of compost
which helps roots to penetrate and spread easily.
• Compost prevents soil from being eroded by improving soil structure and also
prevents soil spattering on plants.
• Compost bound nutrients tightly to prevent form leaching making them more
available to plants.
• Compost makes soil favorable for the growth of plants.
Compost is used as food for the soil organisms like bacteria, fungi, insects, worms
and many others which support plant growth.
• Bacteria in compost convert organic material into inorganic form thus increase
the concentration of available nutrients in soil. Few species of bacteria are able
to convert atmospheric nitrogen to plant available form.
• Compost rich soils contain many beneficial insects, worms and other organisms
which keep soil aerated.
• Compost may reduce the diseases and insect pest attack.
• Root system could be improved by compost application that decline runoff.
