Wood chip soil amendments in restored wetlands affect plant growth by reducing compaction and increasing dissolved phenolics (original) (raw)
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What is Compost? Compost is sometimes called " black gold, " and has long been considered a gardener's best friend. Compost is the product resulting from the controlled biological decomposition of organic material that has been sanitized through the generation of heat and stabilized to the point that it is beneficial to plant growth. Compost bears little physical resemblance to the raw material from which it originated. Compost is an organic matter resource that has the unique ability to improve the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of soils or growing media. It contains plant nutrients but is typically not characterizedas a fertilizer. How is Compost Produced? Compost is produced through the activity of aerobic (oxygenrequiring) microorganisms. These microbes require oxygen, moisture, and food in order to grow and multiply. When these factors are maintained at optimal levels, the natural decomposition process is greatly accelerated. The microbes generate heat, water vapor, and carbon dioxide as they transform raw materials into a stable soil conditioner. Active composting is typically characterized by a high-temperature phase that sanitizes the product and allows a high rate of decomposition, followed by a lower-temperature phase that allows the product to stabilize while still decomposing at a lower rate. Compost can be produced from many " feedstocks " (the raw organic materials, such as leaves, manures or food scraps). State and federal regulations exist to ensure that only safe and environmentally beneficial composts are marketed.Compost can be made in a number of ways, from simply piling up old plant material, to using complicated plastic bins. Basically, plant waste + moisture + warmth + air + microorganisms + time = compost.