Using Compost in Agriculture

Too often compost is viewed as a waste product or disposal problem, rather than a resource. But it should be considered a highly valuable soil conditioner and an essential input to all agricultural practices.

Soil health is a vital ingredient in combating the effects of climate change and economic pressures. Farmers are looking for viable, long term solutions in managing soil, and compost can be a key ingredient.

Compost restores valuable organic matter to soil, giving the whole farming system a way of closing the cycle of nutrients. Compost returns the biological life, carbon and all the essential plant nutrients to the soil from which they came, restoring vitality and resilience.

This guide describes the benefits, guides the use of commercially produced compost and provides instruction for farmers who have the time and equipment to produce compost from organic wastes on their own farm.