It is well established that compost

It is well established that compost contains a diverse group of organisms dominated by bacteria and fungi participating in decomposition of organic matter (Droffner 1995, Brinton 2000,). Bacteria can grow and multiply in both oxygen rich “Aerobic” and low or no oxygen ”Anaerobic” environments. Bacteria from genera such as Enterobacteria, Serratia, Nitrobacter, Pseudomonads, Bacillus, Staphylococcus and various Actinomycetes as well as fungi such as Trichoderma spp. have been isolated from mature composts (Droffner 1995). Subsets of these species known as “facultative anaerobes” thrive in low oxygen environment but are able to grow under aerobic conditions. It is proposed that presence of facultative anaerobes in mature compost is likely associated with disease suppressive traits. Studies have shown various fungal root rot diseases have been suppressed by incorporating compost into soil or soil‐less growing media (Hoitink 1993).