Compost for Agricultural Land?

Composting is the biological stabilization of refuse and similar solid wastes; the end product of composting is a material of supposed benefit to the soil. However, farmers have not generally been eager to use compost because increased crop yields are obtained more economically with chemical fertilizers. Yet composting has significant potential as a method of solid wastes processing, if and when a reasonable system for disposing of the compost can be devised. This paper, in three parts, discusses basic soil factors related to agriculture and agricultural productivity; results of soil organic matter research, including compost utilization; and avenues (present and proposed) for compost discharge to the land. The point is made that the land should be considered a sink or receiver of wastes, rather thinking that wastes, in the form of compost, will benefit the land.