An option for improvement of elaborated peat-free soil conditioner formula can be adding composted material. But what is compost?

A mixture of different organic minerals (organic residues, soil organic residues) which are modified by organism action is called compost. It can be stacked, moistened, limed, organic or mineral fertilizers and biological preparations, etc. additives that promote biological processes and decomposition of organic compounds can be added to it. Composting is a human-regulated biological process in which organic matter (also different waste) is converted into humus-like material. Composting not only reduces the amount of waste, but also reduces the use of mineral fertilizers. Good compost improves soil structure and provides plants with the necessary nutrients, it is used to improve soil properties, as a fertilizer, as well as as a substrate in horticulture.

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Various fertilizers are used in agriculture to improve soil stricture and fertility, many of them are industrially produced fertilizers, which are produced first by extracting minerals and then processing them. For example, for the production of phosphorus fertilizers, more than 130 million t of phosphorus-containing minerals are extracted and further treated with acids or heat treatments. In order to reduce the consumption of resources and energy, as well as the amount of existing waste, it is also possible to use secondary raw materials in agriculture. Many organic fertilizers not only contain plant nutrients but also improve soil structure.

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Soil salinity (the content of salts in soil) and salinization (an increase of salinity due to various reasons) is one of the most common forms of soil degradation and is considered to be a major cause of desertification. This problem has been intensified by climate change with rising temperatures and decrease of precipitation.

Soil salinity occurs when water-soluble salts accumulate in or near the upper horizons of the soil. These salts contain K⁺, Mg⁺, Ca⁺, Cl^–, SO₄^2-, CO₃^2-, HCO₃^– and Na⁺ ions (mostly these salts are sodium chlorides and sodium sulphates). When soils accumulate the exchangeable sodium, this process is called sodification. If Mg⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions are accumulated in the soil, an alkalization process takes place and the soil becomes alkaline (with a pH above 8.5).

As a result of salinization, soil structure degrades and is more exposed to water and wind erosion, soil compaction, soil crust formation, soil desertification, soil fertility decreases, agronomic productivity decrease, the soil buffering capacity against pollution decreases, plant nutrient uptake is impaired, soil biota biodiversity is reduced and also groundwater quality is affected.

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