The Science of Compost

Life, Death and Decay The Science of Compost outlines the biological, physical and chemical processes which lead to the decomposition of garden plant material in a compost pile - and its return to the garden as soil conditioning compost. It covers the structural nature of decaying and dead plant material, the micro-organisms and invertebrates contributing to decomposition, and the combination of chemical, physical and biological factors which determine rates of decay. Chapters include What is compost?; Why do we compost?; What controls the rot?; Dissecting a compost heap: plant organic matter; Dissecting a compost heap: the living organisms - microbes and fauna; An array of microorganisms - their roles in decomposition; An array of invertebrates - their roles in decomposition; The physicochemical environment - its role in decomposition.