7 Benefits of Composting

Last Updated on June 15, 2021 by Bharat Saini

People often overlook many of the modern problems that we have. One of the most common and rich yet neglected resources is found just about everywhere – soil. At the very core of it, soil is an incredible important resource due to the fact that we have a limited amount of it on the planet.

Being how essential soil is for the ecosystem and growing plants for various products, it is important that every patch of it is properly looked after. Among all others, the main key to keeping said soil healthy is by composting.

Composting is a good way to create an ideal environment for your soil in order to enhance its decaying process. Make sure you get all the benefits of healthy soil by adding compost to it when needed. That being said, what are the benefits of compost?

Why is compost good for the soil?

We all enjoy and appreciate the food we eat on a daily basis. What most people fail to realize, however, is just how much processing each ingredient for every meal goes through. At its very core, all the delicious meals and fresh natural ingredients we love, all originate from the soil.

Compost is characterized by its soil-like appearance of organic matter. With its active set of microbes, this mixture is able to increase the process of decomposition greatly. This resource is primarily made up using materials such as leaves, vegetables, leftovers, eggshells, grass clippings, and many others.

Despite what people may initially think, composting is a very easy thing to do. With enough time and dedication to the process, you can make all the difference for your soil. Adding compost to the soil as a part of your habits will greatly help social and environmental issues that we face in today’s climate. With the usage of compost, you can be assured that your plants will thrive.

1. Compost makes use of the carbon in our atmosphere

Not only does compost greatly reduce the number of GHG that people are making, but the resource also makes use of the carbon dioxide that is present in our atmosphere. This is because compost is made of different advantageous microbes which various plants require for absorbing nutrients efficiently.

The roots of plants tend to release carbohydrates in order to keep microbes contained as well as sustain microbes in the soil. They are able to gather the carbon dioxide from the air through a process called photosynthesis and turn them into substances such as different sugars.

2. Helps in creating better food systems

Due to the fact that a good portion of compost is sold locally by companies, the compost that is available tends to be of very high quality. You also indirectly support smaller brands by purchasing compost in your area.

With the use of local compost, food could be guaranteed to be grown in its top condition with efficiency.  Lots of issues come with agriculture, and compost is effectively the best decision for stronger food systems in the long term.

3. Cheaper and easy to make

Compost is often used by many farmers and gardeners because it significantly decreases costs for other agricultural or gardening expenses. Using compost means that you spend less on fertilizers, pesticides, and other such materials. The money that you saved can even be spent on expanding production or your garden instead.

There are also plenty of non-traditional but still compostable materials such as compostable stand-up pouches that are also easy to use. Even better, the soil has yielded better and higher yields with the use of compost. For both gardeners and farmers, this would mean more quality produce.

4. Helps manage erosion

If there is one thing that compost is notable for, it would be its water retention properties. Plenty of perfectly good land has been ruined because of things such as erosion. Water is unable to get through the ground, which is why it tends to accumulate on surfaces and rush elsewhere as it carries soil. By using compost, however, you are able to control and prevent erosion.

This is because compost is able to absorb some water as well as allow it to penetrate the soil. This would mean that the topmost layer of soil stays intact and erosion are prevented.

5. Creating composts also provides job opportunities

At this point, we all know just how amazing compost is for the soil. As the years pass by, consumers have bought compost more and more often. This is why plenty of companies have invested in producing compost which will also create jobs. Not only does compost help the environment and enrich the soil, but it also helps pave a career for people and sustains the economic force of a country.

6. Makes room for better, healthy food

Many food companies tend to use various fertilizers and pesticides all around the world, which have caused a significant portion of land to lack proper nutrients. Naturally, a lack of nutrients in the soil would also affect whatever crops are planted. This would mean that ingredients and food grown from these lands would below-grade and lack nutrition.

Compost makes it so that the soil becomes extremely rich in nutrients. They do this by using their microbes to allow plants to absorb all sorts of essential nutrients and sustenance for growth.

7. Assists with the filtration of natural water sources

With its amazing ability to hold up to 20x its own weight, compost greatly multiplies the masses of water which can infiltrate through the ground. For plants, this is a big help to their growth, but it does not end there. Because the water goes through layers of rock, soil, and compost, it gets significantly cleaner through natural filtration. In other cases, the water may also reach deep water reserves and resources, which greatly revitalizes them.

Conclusion

Compost is no short of amazing for the environment and efficiency. With the plenty of benefits it offers, the resources are a must-have for agriculture and gardening. Being both cheap and effective, compost allows the soil to thrive as well as any crop planted in it.