Читать книгу Core Microbiome - Группа авторов - Страница 59

Landfill and incineration are the ways of solid waste treatment globally. Methane is the greenhouse gas that causes global warming and that needs to be minimized. Therefore, recycling wastes and organic material by returning to agricultural land is most effective. Composting is the most economical and effective way of recycling by placing organic material back in the soil to enhance soil properties (Awasthi et al. 2014). Landfill of biodegradable waste contributes to environmental degradation due to the production of methane gas (Hurrell 2015). A considerable amount of biodegradable organic waste is generated in most countries, and their management is problematic. Recycling wastes and organic material by returning to agricultural land is essential. Composting is the most cost-effective and promising method of treating wastes. Composting is a biological process that turns organic matter into a dark, rich, colored substance, termed “compost,” which is used as a good soil conditioner. Microbes convert complex organic substances into simpler substances during the composting process with the production of carbon dioxide, water, and minerals and stabilized organic matter called compost. During the composting process, heat is generated that kills pathogens, weeds, etc.

Among waste-management strategies, the composting approach has become very popular in the disposal and treatment of organic wastes with many economic and environmental benefits, including the formation of a stabilized product (Varma and Kalamdhad 2014). The global compost market is studied to reach $9.2 billion by 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CGAR) of about 6.8% from 2019 to 2024 (www.globenewswire.com). The main aim of this chapter is to highlight the various applications of compost, how it improves the soil’s physico-chemical parameters and boosts plant growth and yield, and how it ultimately benefits farmers. Amendment to the soil to help plant growth is essential. It is therefore necessary to study how compost amends the soil and helps improve agriculture and horticulture.