Composting converts waste, leaves, kitchen scraps and garden wastes, into a valuable product which, when used in the garden, results in healthier plant growth when added to garden soil. Composting can also help solve our society's solid waste disposal problem. I. Organisms Involved in the Compost Process Decomposition is a natural part of the nutrient cycle of living things. Composting is simply human intervention to enhance and accelerate the decay process Composting is a microbiological process. Many organisms have evolved to use decaying matter as their food source.
Bacteria are among the simplest and most common organisms.
Single-celled and microscopic, they are found almost everywhere in the environment. Although they are too small for us to see, they are responsible for most decomposition. Fungi and molds are also important. White rot fungi are well adapted to decompose woody materials like chipped brush. Mites and other soil invertebrates feed on bacteria and fungi, helping to keep their populations in check.