It also keeps weeds out of this vital root area. As you can see, this simple process requires much collecting, shreading, mixing and pitching, but is actually one of the most important farm chores, very good exercise and well worth all the effort. It is the most important and vital recycling that man can do. Making soil a thousand times faster than nature and rebuilding vast acreage is really possible, even basket by basket. Composts not only provide nutrients, but also improve soil texture.
Sandy soils retain much more water longer, clay soils have better drainage and tilth.
Plowing is replaced by easy tilling of soft soil as deep texture improves. Erosion is greatly reduced. Terraced lands and depleated lands can really benefit greatly from compost and have less erosion. They can become as fertile as fine bottom lands. Spread of disease is greatly reduced, water supplies protected, and increased productivity on rich deep soils leads to long term prosperity.