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1. Organic Compost improves the consistency of soils; breaking up ‘heavy’ or clay rich soil and providing and improved structure. In clay soils this can improve aggregation by a factor of 2, which means the likelihood of water logging is reduced by 50%, and there is 2 times the surface area for nutrient oxidation processes to occur to feed the plants.

2. An improved structure and organic content in sandy soils means moisture retention can increase by up to 45%.

3. Better soil structure in all soils aids root growth (it can be up to a 50% increase) and hence boosts plant robustness, cropping / flowering potential and reduces the likelihood of drought stress and loss.

4. Mature compost has a high humus content (up to 40%) which contains ‘locked in’ nutrients. These nutrients are released over time in a controlled manner unlike many ‘quick release’ fertilizers. The ‘washing out’ or ‘leaching’ effect after heavy rain does not occur therefore the need for further expensive applications of fertilizer is reduced. The nutrient holding capacity of soils can be increased from 10% to 100% of poor unamended soils or sub-soils. The increase in macro nutrients can be as high as 110% and the increase in micro nutrients by 500% over very poor unamended sub-soils.

5. Research has shown that microbial activity in composts helps suppress soil borne diseases such as Rhizoctonia Solani (patch disease in lawn grass), Anthracnose in cucumbers, Fusarium Spp. Phytophthora Supp. Pythium Supp. (root rots and amping off in seedlings).

6. It has also been shown by research that composts also increase the plants production of the enzymes Salicyclic acid and Peroxidase, which are imuno boosters, thus giving the plants an elevated level of systemic disease protection.

7. The Humic acids present in composts is thought to increase the nutrient permeability of plant roots, increase the rate of nutrient transfer from root to stem, increases the rate of photosynthesis and aids in protein building in plant cells. It is also thought to make cell walls more flexible, thus increasing drought tolerance.

8. Mature compost contains a high mineral content, and when compared to the very fibrous structure of peat, this dictates that the product is physically similar to a sandy loam soil in terms of handling and is therefore very ‘user friendly’ for spreading, digging-in, batch or screen blending or bagging.