Composting and its importance

Composting is a microbiological and non-polluting safe method for disposal and recycling of wastes by converting them into organic fertilizer. 

During composting, mixed microbial populations convert organic wastes into humus, which
has signifcant value in agriculture. Anaerobic composting enhance denitrification processes and emits several green house gases to atmosphere.


The valid reasons for composting decomposable wastes of diverse origin and composition are:

• It improves the physical characteristics of agricultural wastes making them easy to handle and use. 
• Composting lowers the C:N ratio of materials with wide C:N ratio such as cereal straw, thus avoiding nutrient competition between plants and microorganisms 
• It reduces the final volume of waste by about half of its original volume 
• It facilitates the recycling of humus and nutrients into the soil 
• It protects and improves the microbiological diversity and quality of cultivated soils 
• The high temperatures produced during composting sterilize weed seeds, kills pathogens and pests in the wastes,thus reducing the cost of production, health hazards and control pests and disease
• It minimizes and even eliminates the problems arising from poor aeration such as emission of H2S, phenolic compounds, methane etc. 
• During composting, various microorganisms promote biodegradation of toxic compounds and pollutants (bioremediation)