Why Use Compost in Preference to Chemical Fertilizer?
The answer to this derives from the foregoing discussion. SRI was developed by Fr. de Laulani with fertilizer being used as the source of supplementary soil nutrients. But when small farmers in Madagascar could no longer afford fertilizer, he recommended using compost, which gave better results. Factorial trials have clearly confirmed this (Randriamiharisoa and Uphoff, 2002). Compost is more than just an alternative source of nutrients, valued for the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium it contains, as with chemical fertilizer. In addition to macronutrients (N, P and K), compost contains a host of micronutrients (iron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, etc.). It serves as a more balanced and more complete source of nutrients for soil organisms as well as for the plant itself. By better supporting soil organisms and the complex food web that operates underground in a healthy soil, compost contributes to better soil structure and functioning. There will be more pore space, so both air a
