 The benefits of a compost pile run far and wide. Whether you are using compost for a small garden, or a farm , compost can be extremely helpful with agriculture, horticulture, and erosion problems. Compost can be made industrially, commercially, or domestically.
It is broken down naturally through the process of biodegradation. It is inexpensive, works as a slow-release fertilizer, and feeds soil.
• Compost is used within open ground for the use of growing wheat, corn, and soybeans, as well as similar crops. In this situation, compost is spread across the topmost layer of soil, occasionally by hand but most often with spreader trucks or tractor spreaders. The layer of compost runs between 6 mm and 25 mm. The compost is worked into soil prior to planting. Larger amounts of compost are used when trying to rebuild soils or when trying to control erosion.
• Compost is used for plasticulture when growing fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, and melons. These fruits and vegetables are often grown under plastic in an effort to control temperature, retain moisture, and control weeds. In this situation compost is either banded or worked into soil prior to the planting.
• Compost is used in a transplant mix when crops are not seeded directly in fields. Instead the plants are started in seed trays within a greenhouse. As the plants reach maturity. Compost can be used as one of the ingredients in the mix used to grow seedlings.
• Compost is often mixed with sand, clay, and sawdust as a bedding mix. This creates an enriched soil mixture for landscape beds as well as raised garden beds. The compost should be no more than 30 percent of the mix.
• Compost can be used in container mixes in potting media, as no more than 30 percent of the mix.
• Compost can be used in foundation plantings in excavated areas around the foundations of new buildings. This is an ideal mix to fill in areas that may otherwise contain rubble, toxic chemicals, and more.
• Compost is often used for mulch and weed control. Two or more inches of compost can be used to keep root zones cool, conserve moisture, and act as a slow-release fertilizer.
• Compost can be used with trees and shrubs. Well aged compost can be mixed with the native soil to be used as backfill when planting trees and shrubs.
• Compost can be used turf and pasture management to establish new turf areas.
• Compost can be used as a compost blanket. In this situation compost is spread in a layer over a disturbed area of soil. Compost has a high water-holding capacity and will collect any rainfall, protecting the soil.
• Compost can be used as compost berms and filter socks. In this situation the compost is used to mitigate the impact of high volume water discharges and flows.
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