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Compost is the decomposed remnants of organic materials (those with plant and animal origins). Compost is used in gardening and agriculture, mixed in with the soil. It improves soil structure, increases the amount of organic matter, and provides nutrients.
Compost is a common name for humus, which is the result of the decomposition of organic matter. Decomposition is performed primarily by microbes, although larger creatures such as worms and ants contribute to the process. Decomposition occurs naturally in all but the most hostile environments, such as buried in landfills or in extremely arid deserts, which prevent the microbes and other decomposers from thriving.
Composting is the controlled decomposition of organic matter. Rather than allowing nature to take its slow course, a composter provides an optimal environment in which decomposers can thrive. To encourage the most active microbes, the compost pile needs the proper mix of the following ingredients:
Decomposition happens even in the absence of some of these ingredients, but not nearly as quickly and not nearly as pleasantly (for example, the plastic bag of vegetables in your refrigerator is decomposed by microbes, but the absence of air encourages anaerobicAnaerobic is a technical word which literally means without air''. The presence or absence of air, or more precise the oxygen in the air, affects various chemical and biological reactions. One example is that wood which is totally immersed in water does n microbes that produce disagreeable odors).
All guidelines for building compost piles have the goal of creating the proper environment for a decomposing ecosystemIn ecology, an ecosystem is a community of organisms (plant, animal and other living organisms also referred as biocenose) together with their environment (or biotope), functioning as a unit. The term ecosystem first appeared in a 1935 publication by the. The ecosystem in a compost pile is a microcosm of larger ecosystems. The correct environment must be maintained for a healthy and vigorous community of decomposers. In addition to the decomposers that work directly on the organic content of the pile, compost piles provide habitat for those that prey upon direct decomposers. Their waste also becomes part of the process.
The most effective decomposers are bacteria and other microorganisms. Also important are fungi, molds, protozoa, and actinomycetesActinomycetes are microscopic organisms that break down organic matter such as dead trees and leaves.--which is something between a fungus and a mold and is often seen as white filaments in decomposing organic matter. At a macroscopic level, earthwormEarthworm is the common reference for the larger members of the Oligochaeta (which is either a class or subclass depending on the author) in the phylum Annelida. In classical systems they were placed in the order Opisthopora on the basis of the male poress, antFormicomorph subfamilies Aneuretinae Dolichoderinae Formicinae e. Formica Myrmeciomorph subfamilies Myrmeciinae eg. Myrmecia Pseudomyrmecinae Dorylomorph subfamilies Cerapachyinae Ecitoninae Leptanilloidinae Aenictinae Dorylinae Aenictogitoninae Leptanills, snailThe name snail applies to most members of the molluscan Class Gastropoda that have coiled shells. Other gastropods, which lack a conspicuous shell, are commonly called slugs, and are scattered throughout groups that primarily include snails. Snails are fos, slugFor other meanings see Slug (disambiguation Slugs are gastropods without or with very small shells, in contrast with snails from which they evolved, which have a prominent shell. Although they undergo torsion (twisting) during development, their bodies ars, millipedes, sow bugs, springtails, and others work on consuming and breaking down the organic matter. Centipedes and other predators feed upon these decomposers.