A Comprehensive Review on Organic Waste Compost as an Effective Phosphorus Source for Sustainable Agriculture

Purpose: The transformation of Organic Waste through composting has become a source of organic matter that, through microbial action, generates molecules conducive to phosphate solubilization and produces fractions of Po and Pi readily available for plants. For this reason, this review focused on analyzing various research studies where Organic Waste is utilized to release available phosphorus and thus improve agricultural production. Method: One hundred and eighteen articles were analyzed and synthesized from recognized databases, addressing the following topics: Phosphorus in the Earth's crust, phosphorus recovery from Organic Waste, compost, metabolic pathways for phosphorus release in compost, and microbial activity for phosphorus release in compost. Results: The selection of organic materials and the incorporation of MSP during the composting process favor the availability of P for plants. The compost microbiota associated with phosphorus not only enhances its availability but also may promote plant growth. Various mechanisms exist for P release, such as the enzymes β-1,4-glucosidase and β-D-fructofuranosidase, along with mycorrhizae facilitating P transport, the enzymatic cofactor pyrroloquinoline quinone, and the function of phosphorus genes contributing to its availability, thereby promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Conclusion: Composts can serve as valuable P sources for plants, wherein their existing microbiota enhances phosphorus availability, facilitating increased phosphorus recycling through symbiotic relationships, microbial interactions, and the action of phosphorus genes, thereby ensuring sustainable agriculture.   Highlights  Organic waste promotes microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria for the solubilization of various forms of phosphorus, additionally, mycorrhizal associations favor its transport. Composting and vermicomposting techniques stabilize organic matter for application in crops. In addition to organic acids and phosphatases, phytohormones are molecules that participate in the solubilization of labile phosphorus.