- Maintaining and enhancing soil organic matter levels. In the long term this maintains soil fertility and health, improves soil structure and water holding capacity, thereby reducing the risk of erosion and the need for irrigation.

- Supplying major crop available nutrients such as Nitrogen, Potash, Phosphorous, Sulphur, Magnesium and trace elements. As bagged fertiliser prices increase, the fertiliser replacement value of compost becomes even more significant.  In February 2008, the fertiliser replacement value of compost applied at 30 tonnes per hectare was £190/ha.

The use of quality compost can therefore improve crop establishment and increase yields.

Quality compost can be used in a variety of agricultural applications:

•         Arable crops - compost is especially beneficial to clayey soils that are difficult to work into a seedbed, and for light soils that are low in organic matter and/or potassium.
•         Top and soft fruit - when used as a deep mulch, especially in young orchards, compost can significantly increase yields (number of fruit per trees and fruit size), mainly by retaining moisture in soils.
•         Root crops & vegetables - root crops are typically grown in lighter soil. Compost is a particularly good source of potash and so is especially beneficial for root crops that have a high potash requirement, such as potatoes.
•         Grassland - adding compost to grassland areas is an excellent way of boosting the nutrients required for optimum root growth.
•         In organic farming – organic farms need to recycle nutrients to sustain and build soil fertility, and to achieve crop and livestock health. Composting results in a stabilised product, free of pests, pathogens and weed seeds – an excellent material for building soil organic matter and supporting soil microbial communities.