Composting is one of the best ways to help reduce your environmental footprint. Most people don’t think about it, but we produce a lot of waste every day- and not just trash. The average person throws away up to 10 pounds of food each month! Food that you could turn into compost for gardens or animal feed for livestock. A compost bin is a perfect way to make this happen, as they turn all organic material (including food scraps) into soil-enhancing matter with little effort on your part. This article will outline some great reasons why you should get a compost bin and start composting today!
Increases Organic Matter In The Soil
You can think of compost as a way to provide your soil with much-needed organic matter. Organic matter provides your soil with nutrients to stay healthy and helps retain water in the root zone, which results in less runoff. It also aids in preventing nutrient imbalances, improves aeration, increases microbial activity in the soil, supports beneficial organisms, breaks down toxins, keeps soil from compacting, and adds important allies for crops like mycorrhizae fungi.
When you use compost regularly, you’ll notice that your soil becomes softer over time. The aggregate structures formed by decomposing organic matter will prevent soil particles from clumping together, making it easier for your plant’s roots to grow and spread. Since the soil doesn’t pack down as easily, water retention greatly increases, and drought stress reduces.
Leachate In The Soil
Leachate is the liquid that drains from a compost pile as it sits or after it has been applied to the soil. Leachate contains liquids, soluble carbon compounds from the decomposing organic matter, and nutrients, which can benefit plant growth. With these nutrients in your soil, they mix with naturally occurring mineral ions and become available to plants. It’s important not to over-apply leachate, though, as too much of any one kind of nutrient can cause imbalances in your soil. If you notice signs of a salt build-up in your soil, you can dilute it with water to prevent plant damage.
