There are many benefits of composting organic matter and then incorporating the remaining humus into the soil.

When organic matter is composted, it reduces large amounts of farm, household, lawn, and garden waste into a rich humus instead of the waste being carted away to clog diminishing landfill sites.

When compost is incorporated into the soil, it improves soil structure. An improved soil structure:

- Allows water to percolate into the soil and be retained by the spongy organic matter instead of running off the land carrying soil and fertilizers to who knows where.

- Encourages root penetration and thereby drought resistance. The deeper root penetration aids erosion control.

- Improves soil aeration stimulating nutrient and water uptake through enhanced root respiration.

Organic matter particles by virtue of their weak negative charge help retain native and added positively charged cationic nutrient ions that would otherwise be leached away by rainfall or irrigation. This is done by forming weak chemical bonds between the organic particles and nutrient ions.

As organic matter is broken down by bacteria, fungi, insects, and earthworms, it releases valuable nutrients to the soil. Compost is an especially valuable source of micronutrients that are often lacking in synthetic commercial fertilizers.

The release of nutrients as organic matter breaks down benefits the very organisms that attack organic matter, allowing them to overwhelm many nonbeneficial organisms.

Organic matter has a high buffering capacity resisting changes in soil pH. This capability stabilizes soil pH's and compensates for overliming and overfertilizing. 

Organic Matter Sources  

Usually any form of vegetation can be used for composting. Succulent green vegetation like fresh leaves, lawn clippings, garden residue, weeds, and spoiled fruit and vegetables contain enough sugars and nitrogen-rich protein to support bacterial breakdown. Woody materials such as sawdust, dry leaves, small twigs, newspapers, straw, cornstalks, eggshells, and coffee grounds need to be mixed with green vegetation or have nitrogen added to speed breakdown. Avoid meat products, as they may attract rodents.