ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the main advantages of the bio-composting of agro-wastes from different feedstocks for improving the sustainability of horticultural cropping systems managed under organic cultivation systems. The purpose is to focus the knowledge acquired on the use of suppressive compost and compost tea in horticulture, in the field of both phytosanitary defence and plant growth promotion. This contribution is mainly addressed to farmers and growers by describing the most promising technologies to significantly reduce the amounts of either synthetic fungicides for controlling soil-borne plant pathogens of horticultural crops by using suppressive composts, or mineral fertilizers for enhancing productivity and the quality of the horticultural products by using compost teas.
