Compost Improves Physicochemical Properties of Tropical Soils Under Sugarcane Cultivation

To maximize the benefits of compost derived from food, garden and agricultural waste on production systems, it is essential to understand its effects on soil properties. We tested the hypothesis that compost application enhances soil physicochemical characteristics, which serve as proxies for soil resilience and resistance. On-farm research was conducted on long-term sugarcane fields, comparing soils that received either no compost (control) or a single compost application at 35 t/ha. Farm-produced compost was applied during plant crop establishment, one year prior on alluvial soil and two years prior on dermosol. Compost was incorporated during the hilling-up of planting beds, ensuring comparable physical disturbance between control and treated plots. Compared to controls, compost-amended soils generally showed lower penetration resistance, improved aggregation and aggregate stability, and reduced acidity. These findings support the hypothesis that compost can modify soil physicochemical properties associated with processes such as compaction, erosion, and acidification. The effects of compost application varied between the two sites, suggesting that differences in field conditions, including soil characteristics and the timing of compost application, may have influenced the observed responses. Compost also affected soil water repellency differently: alluvial soils exhibited a lower repellency index, while dermosols had a higher index than controls. To build robust knowledge, next-steps research should quantify the effects of different composts, application rates and frequencies across soil types and farming systems. Our findings suggest that compost derived from agricultural and urban waste streams may contribute to improved soil condition in sugarcane systems.