Compost represents an important input for sustainable agriculture, but the use of diverse compost types causes uncertain outcomes. Here we performed a global meta-analysis with over 2,000 observations to determine whether a precision compost strategy (PCS) that aligns suitable composts and application methods with target crops and growth environments can advance sustainable food production. Eleven key predictors of compost (carbon-to-nutrient ratios, pH and salt content electric conductivity), management (nitrogen N supply) and biophysical settings (crop type, soil texture, soil organic carbon, pH, temperature and rainfall) determined 80% of the effect on crop yield, soil organic carbon and nitrous oxide emissions. The benefits of a PCS are more pronounced in drier and warmer climates and soils with acidic pH and sandy or clay texture, achieving up to 40% higher crop yield than conventional practices. Using a data-driven approach, we estimate that a global PCS can increase the production of major cereal crops by 96.3 Tg annually, which is 4% of current production. A global PCS has the technological potential to restore 19.5 Pg carbon in cropland topsoil (0–20 cm), equivalent to 26.5% of current topsoil soil organic carbon stocks. Together, this points to a central role of PCS in current and emerging agriculture.

堆肥是可持续农业的重要投入，但使用不同类型的堆肥会导致不确定的结果。在这里，我们对 2,000 多个观察结果进行了全球荟萃分析，以确定将合适的堆肥和应用方法与目标作物和生长环境相结合的精确堆肥策略 (PCS) 是否可以促进可持续粮食生产。堆肥（碳养分比、pH 值和盐含量电导率）、管理（氮 N 供应）和生物物理设置（作物类型、土壤质地、土壤有机碳、pH 值、温度和降雨量）的 11 个关键预测因子已确定 80%对作物产量、土壤有机碳和一氧化二氮排放的影响。PCS 的好处在干燥和温暖的气候以及酸性 pH 值和沙质或粘土质地的土壤中更为明显，实现比传统做法高出 40% 的作物产量。使用数据驱动的方法，我们估计全球 PCS 可以使主要谷类作物的产量每年增加 96.3 Tg，占当前产量的 4%。全球 PCS 具有恢复农田表层土壤（0-20 厘米）19.5 Pg 碳的技术潜力，相当于当前表层土壤有机碳储量的 26.5%。总之，这表明了 PCS 在当前和新兴农业中的核心作用。当前表层土壤有机碳储量的 5%。总之，这表明了 PCS 在当前和新兴农业中的核心作用。当前表层土壤有机碳储量的 5%。总之，这表明了 PCS 在当前和新兴农业中的核心作用。