Soil Management: Compost Production and use in Tropical and Subtropical Environments

This Soils Bulletin provides training material on composting for extension workers and teachers in countries in the tropics and ‘subtropics. The objective is to promote the use of locally available organic materials to increase soil organic matter content for the improvement with mineral fertilizers. This manual is written for all those concerned with maintenance and improvement of soil fertility, especially under tropical and subtropical conditions. It is hoped that it will be of value to staff in Government Agricultural Advisory Services and in non-government agencies both at the policy making level and in various levels in extension services. It contains material for use in farmer training. Those involved in planning safe waste disposal systems will also find it useful and it should stimulate thinking among elected officials in local government bodies throughout the tropics. Schoolteachers in rural areas will be able to base science lessons on it. The book has been written by Howard Dalzell, Director of the Medak Agricultural Centre, India, in conjunction with ken Gray, Joe Biddlestone and Kamala Thurairajan of the Compost Studies Group at the University of Birmingham, England. The latter group was formed in 1965 in the Department of Chemical Engineering and has been studying the composting process and its application to the treatment of organic wastes from garden, farm and municipal sources. During his 16 years experience of agricultural development in India, Dalzell has carried out the practice of composting with support from the university group in England. This manual is the result of their joint experiences.