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Compost
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A farmer wearing a straw hat and boots uses a pitchfork to turn a compost pile outdoors, surrounded by trees and farm materials. Diagram of a compost heap cross-section showing alternating layers of green-plant material, thin layers of soil, fertilizer, and superphosphate, with a hollow at the top to catch rain and a soil covering. The heap is 3-6 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. A compost bin filled with food scraps, plant material, and garden waste sits on green grass in a garden setting.

Compost: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • Melissa Petruzzello
    Melissa Petruzzello (she/her) is Assistant Managing Editor and covers plants, algae, fungi, insects, spiders, renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles certain topics in Christianity, notably Protestant history and churches. 
  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Short- and long-term effects of continuous compost amendment on soil microbiome community. Nov 07, 2026
Article title updated for style. Oct 31, 2026
Add new Web site: University of Nebraska - Lincoln Extension - Composting Manure and Other Organic Materials (PDF). Mar 20, 2026
Add new Web site: American Chemical Society - Compost: Your Trash, Nature's Treasure! Apr 02, 2025
Add new Web site: Natural Resources Defense Council - Composting 101. Feb 21, 2025
Add new Web site: NPR - Composting can help fight climate change. Get started in 5 easy steps. Jan 11, 2025
Add new Web site: FAO Knowledge Repository - Preparation and use of compost. Nov 14, 2024
Add new Web site: Academia - Compost Production and Use in Sustainable Farming Systems. Oct 01, 2024
Add new Web site: Nature - ISME Communications - An agroecological structure model of compost�soil�plant interactions for sustainable organic farming. Aug 05, 2024
Add new Web site: Cornell Waste Management Institute - Cornell Composting - Compost Microorganisms. Jun 28, 2024
Add new Web site: University of Maryland Extension - How to make Compost at home. Feb 22, 2024
Add new Web site: The Spruce - How to Make Compost in 4 Easy Steps. Dec 22, 2023
Add new Web site: PennState Extension - Home Composting: A Guide for Home Gardeners. Oct 27, 2023
Add new Web site: University of Florida IFAS Extesion - Compost Tips for the Home Gardener. Sep 14, 2023
Add new Web site: Rodale Institute - Compost. Jul 20, 2023
Add new Web site: Untamed Science - The Science of Compost. May 28, 2023
Add new Web site: University of Missouri Extension - Making and Using Compost. Feb 15, 2023
Add new Web site: United States Environment Protection Agency - Composting At Home. Jan 22, 2021
Add new Web site: Live Science - The Science Behind Composting. Nov 27, 2019
Added photos of compost piles. Dec 06, 2018
Article thoroughly revised. Dec 06, 2018
Add new Web site: Garden Organic - Making Compost in Schools. Feb 05, 2013
Add new Web site: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - Composting. Feb 05, 2013
Add new Web site: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - Compost. Feb 05, 2013
Added diagram of a compost heap. Sep 23, 2010
New article added. Feb 20, 2009
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