Abstract
Composting has become a preferable option to treat organic wastes to obtain a final stable sanitized product that can be used as an organic amendment. From home composting to big municipal waste treatment plants, composting is one of the few technologies that can be practically implemented at any scale. This review explores some of the essential issues in the field of composting/compost research: on one hand, the main parameters related to composting performance are compiled, with especial emphasis on the maturity and stability of compost; on the other hand, the main rules of applying compost on crops and other applications are explored in detail, including all the effects that compost can have on agricultural land. Especial attention is paid to aspects such as the improvement of the fertility of soils once compost is applied, the suppressor effect of compost and some negative experiences of massive compost application.
Highlights
IntroductionThe generated amounts of solid wastes have been exponentially increased almost all over the world
During recent decades, the generated amounts of solid wastes have been exponentially increased almost all over the world
It is important to mention that the results of onto soil highly depends on both soil and compost intrinsic properties, along with the the application of this type of fertilizer may not be viewed within a short period due to the slow compost application rate [49,50,65]
Summary
The generated amounts of solid wastes have been exponentially increased almost all over the world. Composting technology has become an effective management approach for recycling and converting organic waste into a useful “compost” product with a high nutrient content and low prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms [15,16] This technology provides a promising and sustainable solution as the produced compost would be used as fertilizer and improve productivity in terms of quantity and quality of agricultural products [17] and, at the same time, the conservation of natural resources [18], the protection of soil systems and the reduction of environmental impact [19]. Using compost as a valuable alternative to artificial inorganic fertilizers due to their nutrient value, to improve the soil content in organic matter and the long-term soil fertility and productivity, became widespread around the world. A comprehensive overview about the characteristics of the final end product and its application in agriculture is introduced
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