compost
Sign in to savethumb|upright=1.3|Community-level composting in a rural area in Germany
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I don't have enough factual information in the provided context to write an accurate overview of compost. The caption only shows that community-level composting exists in rural Germany, but doesn't explain what compost is, how it's made, or why it matters. I cannot responsibly write the overview without inventing facts, which violates your instruction.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
36 sectionsContents
- Fundamentals
- Organisms
- Chemical decomposers
- Physical decomposers
- Phases of composting
- Hot and cold composting – impact on timing
- Pathogen removal
- Diseases that can be contracted from handling compost
- Environmental benefits
- Materials that can be composted
- Organic solid waste
- Animal manure and bedding
- Human excreta{{anchor|Humanure}}
- Animal remains
- Human bodies
- Composting technologies
- Industrial-scale composting
- {{anchor|in-vessel composting}}In-vessel composting
- {{anchor|aerated static pile composting}}Aerated static-pile composting
- {{anchor|windrow composting}}Windrow composting
- Other systems at household level
- {{anchor|Hügelkultur}}Hügelkultur (raised garden beds or mounds)
- Composting toilets
- Related technologies
- Uses
- Agriculture and gardening
- {{anchor|Compost tea}}Compost tea
- Compost extract
- Commercial sale
- Community composting
- Other
- Regulations
- History
- See also
- Related lists
- References
thumb|upright=1.3|Community-level composting in a rural area in Germany
Compost is a mixture of ingredients used as plant fertilizer and to improve soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties. It is commonly prepared by decomposing plant and food waste, recycling organic materials, and manure. The resulting mixture is rich in plant nutrients and beneficial organisms, such as bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, and fungi. Compost improves soil fertility in gardens, landscaping, horticulture, urban agriculture, and organic farming, reducing dependency on commercial chemical fertilizers. The benefits of compost include providing nutrients to crops as fertilizer, acting as a soil conditioner, increasing the humus or humic acid contents of the soil, and introducing beneficial microbes that help to suppress pathogens in the soil and reduce soil-borne diseases.