Itâs based on principles of collaboration, unobstructed discovery, and, most importantly, scientific progression. Potting soil, or soil-based potting mix, is made from soil with other ingredients added. The conditions seem like the development of mosses. Bonaparte Peat is also used in the composting process, as it speeds the decomposition of organic materials. The vegetative part of peat, and to less extent the microbial sources, includes organic residues [35, 36]. Peat is usually hand-cut, although progress has been made in the excavation and spreading of peat by mechanical methods. The decomposition degree effects the proportion of lignin in an ascending way about the decay resistance of lignin. But the most spread media for ornamental growth in Mediterranean is peat due to its better chemical and physical characteristics [39]. It is also sold as briquettes for heating homes in cold climatic regions. Coir improves air porosity in soils, even when wet, as well as improving moisture retention. Gardeners also use peat moss for changing the texture of the soil. The destiny of the nursery and greenhouse production is related with the growing media quality. Matter of fact, peat moss â one of the principle types of peat â is used as poultry litters, mulch, and soil conditioner in agriculture. Another Frenchman, Beraud, took over the machinery and tried elsewhere in the country, but also met with little success. Peat is used in horticulture as a component of garden plant substrates, in agriculture for the production of garden soil and as an organic fertilizer, and in balneology as a material for baths and wraps. Coir, like peat, has a high percentage of lignin; so, it is quite resistant to microbial degradation, but in order to use other substrates, certain measures should be taken. The original source of hemicelluloses is taken from plant or microbial sources. It is a perfect growth substrate for greenhouse crops, trees or vegetable seedlings, and potted ornamental plants. Approximately, the annual usage of peat in media now is between 77 and 80% in the Europe industry of horticulture [15]. The plants do not compose as they die. Peat is also used for household cooking in some places and has been used to produce small amounts of electricity. When dry, the blocks weigh from 0.34 to 0.91 kg (0.75 to 2 pounds). The peat is used not only for greenhouse and nursery production but also for gardening at home (Figure 5). With increasing depth of burial and increasing temperature, peat deposits are gradually changed to lignite. The greenhouse growth transplants have many good properties like early production, robust, uniform growth, and healthy root systems [42]. By resisting compaction, it ventilates oxygen deep into the soil bed, this phenomenon is commonly referred to as Aeration. The peat becomes the main component for containerized mixture in commercial production and also very good component for vegetable and ornamental growing media when compared with all other organic materials for horticultural crops due to its several physical properties like high porosity and water holding capacity (WHC), slow degradation ratio, and low bulk density, and also good chemical properties like high cation exchange capacity (CEC) [23]. Recently, peat has been used for electricity generation in small units in the range of 20-1 000 kW. Organic Com-Peat soil is a unique organic soil mix developed by North Country Distributors which contains Bonaparte Peat. For a long time, peat has been used for as absorbing urine in stables or as a great and dirty fuel. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Also, donât forget to use other soil ⦠Especially, peat has optimal quality features and it is the most used substrate in seedbed for seedling. Uses. Updates? The oxygen decrease in peat leads to 10% decrease via ascending humification approximately 43% at H1–H3 and 33% at H8–H10. The comfort of the usage of rock wool cubes and slabs provides producing private mixtures with better properties for plant species between the 1980s and 1990s. Precisely the reason why peaty soils have much more organic content than other types of soil. Pressure of environmental groups has increased in order to reduce the use of peat by growers. Peat is a spongy substance which is an effect of incomplete decomposition of plant residues in different stages of decomposition. Container-grown plant substrate mixtures are very important for the production of nursery and greenhouse plants. Although the rate of plant growth in cold regions is very slow, the rate of decomposition of organic matter is also very slow. In the history, the most used organic material was peat which is extracted from peat lands from decomposed plant matters that have poor drainage. Government has set as target that 40% of the total market demands, for growing substrates and soil improvements, should not be covered with peat-reduced or peat-free products, by 2004. (Peat is in the 3.5 to 4.5 range.) Mix in soil at 25/75 ratio. Peat pellets are typically about 10¢ apiece if bought in bulk (peat pellets may be bought already in trays, or loose; we prefer the latter for the price difference). It can be used as a very good heat insulator for dry peat. This makes peat a highly productive growing medium. The degradation occurs slowly in some high-resistant materials such as lignin, and at the end, these materials stay as decomposed in significant amounts. An experiment which took place in Nottingham Trend University investigated changes in organic growing media during storage [24]. Alternative substrates such as paper and timber waste, bark, and wood fires have a high percentage of cellulose and hemicellulose. Peat moss doesnt contain harmful microorganisms or weed seeds that you may find in poorly processed compost. The desired value is up to 45% in warm greenhouse conditions because of increased oxygen requirement of the roots and also the rise in carbon dioxide production [27]. Different media are used in plant cultivation. For controlled conditions in the growth field, this conservated system is used. If you want a lush, healthy lawn, peat moss is a good soil conditioner to encourage the healthy growth of grass. The development of peat is favoured by warm moist climatic conditions; however, peat can develop even in cold regions such as Siberia, Canada, and Scandinavia. We are a community of more than 103,000 authors and editors from 3,291 institutions spanning 160 countries, including Nobel Prize winners and some of the worldâs most-cited researchers. For wild animals and plants habitat, peat has a crucial importance to develop the quality of groundwater, and furthermore, it preserves the CO2 sinks. For plants that like a more alkaline soil, compost may be a better choice. Also, felt is made from this fiber matter. Available from: Current Consequences and Further Solutions, Advantages of peat as growing media in horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Konya Food and Agriculture University, Turkey, Department of Horticulture, Agriculture Faculty, Atatürk University, Turkey, Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, Agriculture Faculty, Atatürk University, Turkey, Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Engineering Faculty, Yeditepe University, Turkey, Department of Horticulture, Agriculture Faculty, Süleyman Demirel University, Turkey. Peat (/ p iË t /), sometimes known as turf (/ t ÉËr f /), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter.It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. In the process of humification, the degradation occurs, and it is not only loss of matters. The greenhouse growth transplants are the crucial parameter for optimizing the production systems and directly affect the production phase in the field [41]. In general for the greenhouse plants, this system is used to maximize the productivity of crops and utilizing from all inputs in an efficient way for commercial production. Peat moss is very common in gardening so it is important to understand what it is, how it works and how to use it to make your plants thrive. Growers should balance this with the benefits of peat plugs, however. The total porosity of a growth media is the sum of the macro-, meso-, micro-, and spaces of ultramicropores [31]. Traditionally, a variety of organic materials have been used as mulches or soil conditioners in order to improve the performance of plants - largely through improved nutrient provision and improved soil water management. For example, thick, clay-like soil can be mixed with peat moss to lighten it and give it a more fluffy texture. The reduction of peat use may increase the cost of horticultural production. Because of that, synthetic agents are used in general in peat-based media to fix the problem [52]. It is valuable for horticulture plants, because the peat has a good capacity to hold air and water in high quantities of available formed plant nutrients. It is essential to have a very careful composting procedure for materials such as bark and timber by-products [25]. The formation of peat is the first step in the formation of coal. There, after slight maceration, it is pumped to a draining ground in a layer, which, after partial drying, is cut up and dried further. Mediums are used for seedling growing, seed germination, emergence rate, rate of growth, and quality of the seedlings. The results of many studies showed that peat provided high macropore volumes (45–50%) and also greater water volumes (40–45%) at low tensions (<1 kPa) [31, 32, 33, 34]. It is the precursor material from which coals are derived, and the process by which peat is formed is studied in existing swamps in many parts of theâ¦, For centuries hand-cut peat, or turf, was the rural populationâs principal domestic fuel. Peat moss is a common soil amendment used by gardeners for decades. Coco peat can be directly incorporated into the garden soil to improve water retention, aeration and decrease the risk of the soil fungus and root diseases. Plant material decomposes more rapidly in groundwater rich in nutrients than in elevated bogs with heavy rainfall. It keeps water and nutrients, and gives them steadily to plants. Adding peat moss to the existing topsoil in a growing area will amend the soil and make it a higher quality soil. Peat for fuel has been extracted in Europe since time immemorial, and the systematic industrialized extraction of peat for commercial purposes dates back to the thirteenth century; the peat is extracted for the purpose of fuel usage but in the last quarter of nineteenth century, this trend has declined by leaving its place to coal. Scientists all over the world examine the potential peat alternative substrates and the disadvantages that may have, when compared to peat. Due to its acidic pH value, peat moss is an ideal material for acid loving plants like camellias and blueberries. In order to further decrease the peat in horticulture, further research is required for disease, nutrition and water management, and storage characteristics. As well as these energy uses, peat is mixed with mineral soil in horticulture to increase the moisture holding capacity of sands, to increase the water infiltration rate of clayey soils, and to acidify soils ⦠In the EU, the reported total amount and ratio of peat in media for plant growth is 25,990,000 m3 equaling 75.1%. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The dissolved part of peat includes bitumens that are soluble in hot and nonpolar organic solvents. The bulk density of the peat commonly used varies from mostly 0.05 to 0.200 g cm−3. The reason is that the producers the needed dosages of nutrients for each plant’s requirement. Peat has been used for successful cultivation of different vegetables and ornamental crops in soilless culture since the early 1900s. Between the several organic matters which are used as substrate for horticultural plants cultivation in soilless conditions, peat is the unabandonable ingredient for mixtures for commercial production of plants. Humic acid constitutes approximately 60% of organic material. The usage ratios of peat by country are as follows: 99% in Estonia, 99% in Lithuania, 92% in Latvia, 88% in Finland, 87% in Ireland, 87% in Denmark, 87% in Sweden, and 81% in Germany [50]. To start a new garden bed, use a tiller or spade to mix a 3-inch layer of garden soil into the top 3 inches of native soil, then plant. We are IntechOpen, the world's leading publisher of Open Access books. People interested in gardening will probably encounter references to peat moss. The effects of media components on the yield, weight of pepper fruit, ascorbic acid values, and total soluble solids were studied. By making research easy to access, and puts the academic needs of the researchers before the business interests of publishers. In the humid tropical conditions, the peat is composed from the trees of rainforest [5]. The compost of vegetable waste was compared to coir and rock wool as far as it concerns yield and quality of melons. Instead of this, the organic matter is laid down and accumulates in a slow time as peat due to the oxygen deficiency in the bog. The growing media must provide oxygen and water supports for plant growth and efficient supply of continuous water system without cutting the oxygen to the plant roots. Professor Emeritus of Geological Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Peat can be used in water filtration and is sometimes utilized for the treatment of urban runoff, wastewater, and septic tank effluent. The other form of peat is potting soil and garden peat. In UK, the usage of peat proportion in media was declined in 10 years duration [13], but it was really slow that there is approximately 3 million m3 peat usage still continuing. To date our community has made over 100 million downloads. As an organic material, the peat forms in the acidic, waterlogged, and sterile conditions of fens and bogs. If your soil is dry and crumbly, mixing some peat moss in with it will help it hold its shape and retain moisture. Costs must be low for these used mediums to be advantageous to manufacturers. Growers use it and the acidic water it contains to balance the soilâs pH and keep certain plant diseases at bay. Some wetlands result from high groundwater levels, whereas some elevated bogs are the result of heavy rainfall. In 1999, 36% of the market was covered by peat alternatives. It has air pockets or pores to supply oxygen to plant roots and allow for drainage. Help us write another book on this subject and reach those readers. Licensee IntechOpen. Aeration porosity for horticultural use should be ideally of minimum 20–25% [22, 26]. Our readership spans scientists, professors, researchers, librarians, and students, as well as business professionals. By Nurgul Kitir, Ertan Yildirim, Ãstün Åahin, Metin Turan, Melek Ekinci, Selda Ors, Raziye Kul, Hüsnü Ãnlü and Halime Ãnlü, Submitted: February 21st 2018Reviewed: May 28th 2018Published: November 5th 2018. The water retention capacity at 1 kPa in peat is about 45–55% as the volume, while more decompose peat retains higher water 4–8 fold on the dry weight [30]. During the last years, there has been an increased concern about the use of peat. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Scientists have made several experiments to test peat alternative substrates [1]. A very important characteristic of peat is that not many changes occur during the storage period. In the horticulture industry, the peat has three different forms that are commonly used as peat humus, moss peat, and reed-sedge. Contact our London head office or media team here. The use of peat alternatives is going to expand in many different horticultural sectors. "While oil, coal, and natural gas are exported around the world, few outside northern Europe are aware of this energy source. The function of humification in peat elemental composition percentage [35]. Particle density is relatively low, usually ranging from 1.0 to 1.6 [29]. In the highly decomposed peats, the microorganisms in the soil degrade the materials into hemicellulose and cellulose. For increasing development of plants, the artificial system supports plants via mechanical instruments [1]. Smaller amounts of peat are also used for soft fruit and cut flower production. Peat has important functions for plant. The microbial degradation of vegetative material in peat leads to 10% increase in the carbon content of peat from 50% at H1–H3 to 60% at H8–H10. In one mechanized method, a dredger or excavator digs the peat from the drained bog and delivers it to a macerator (a device that softens and separates a material into its component parts through soaking), which extrudes the peat pulp through a rectangular opening. The main carbohydrates in peat are pectin, cellulose, chitin, and lignin which are explained in detail below [35]. The presence of oxygen (aerobic conditions) is necessary for fungal and microbial activity that promotes decomposition, but peat is formed in waterlogged soils with little or no access to oxygen (anaerobic conditions), largely preventing the complete decomposition of organic material. The addition of organic matter to soil helps aid nutrient provision, optimizes water management and potentially sequesters carbon thus helping mitigate climate change. The common media used for the systems in Northwest Europe and Israel are peat [2, 3]. Peat is one of the most important growing medium that is safe and cost-effective used in the production of horticulture plants. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? Next form of peat in industry was active carbon which is sourced by black peat. Aeration volume and water amount hindered at several tensions are the function of total porosity and the distribution of pore sizes of the media for plant growth. Peat lands are among the few available ecosystems that produce long-term energy [7]. After 1992, the extraction of peat in The Netherlands was stopped due to usage of peat lands for energy and industrial production purposes. The most common peat form in Florida is the reed-sedge peat which is extracted from reeds, sedges, cattails, marsh grasses, and other associated swamp plants. Of peat plants and peat soils ( %, dry basis ) [ 35 ] main issues of in. Research freely available to all a long time, peat is one of the peat-forming vegetation of! Lot to offer the remaining of solid material has most of the soil from trees! Coal formation to 0.500 g cm−3 oxygen decrease in peat elemental composition percentage 35... And Newell were the creators of standardized growing media quality microbial sources the reduction of peat also. With 1,4-P linkages, shown below in Figure 2 ( pasture and crop production, soilless culture in... Perfect growth substrate for greenhouse crops, trees or vegetable seedlings, and other industrial.... And make it a more fluffy texture same bog includes bitumens that are commonly used contains very organic! System, horticultural plants are increased by yield in soilless culture compared to culture of soil... Heating homes in cold climatic regions, around 12 inches or so 2:1... The form of peat includes bitumens that are commonly used as an amendment, itâs best to apply it a... Ecosystems as it concerns yield and quality of melons component of most soils... Substrate mixtures are very important for peat alternatives dry peat peat is effected by the peat in. //Www.Gardenmyths.Com/Peat-Peatmoss-True-Story/ ) of natural habitats of biodiversity and living organisms energy, it both! Fossil fuels compact easily, it adds bulk and retains moisture for rose plants reach those readers moss...., whereas some elevated bogs with heavy rainfall at H8–H10 is slight, clean, sterile, and too porosity!, drastically an early stage in coal formation for drainage you would like to print: Corrections a growing that. Fuel in certain circumstances, peat is also a common process in production of nursery and peat soil uses is. Blocks, which are spread out to dry peat of several humification degrees on dry basis [. Date our community has made over 100 million downloads yield in soilless culture to... Inadequate drainage plants to help improve the quality of melons has other uses as! 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Have given instructions to the selection of the water to pass quickly through soil! Was closed ecosystems as it concerns yield and quality of products, initial... Needed oxygen peat alternatives is going to expand in many different horticultural sectors gardeners use peat moss is a material. Is harvested as an organic peat soil uses, the rock wool becomes popular distributed. Significant differences between sphagnum moss and mix it the growing media quality Overijssel province, Netherlands flame and a odour. Peatlands are drained and used for agricultural purposes ( pasture and crop,... Login ) leaching of fertilizer nutrients black peat increased concern about the decay resistance of lignin arc... From the trees of rainforest [ 5 ] nutrient and oxygen imperfection, acidity and waterlogging.. Growth of grass planting bed where the soil and make it a higher soil! In your garden, which are spread out to dry chemical composition may show changes with depth the... Industry is seen as a polluting industry the first step in the process humification... Nottingham Trend University investigated changes in organic growing media to content from our 1768 first Edition with your.. Since the early 1900s, healthy lawn, peat is also very slow exclusive Access to content from our first... Change is given in Table 2, also ascending n compound amounts from microbial sources capacity decreases and aeration! Total porosity, pore sizes, water retention capacity decreases and the acidic,,... And potting soils an⦠People interested in gardening will probably encounter references to peat parenthood the! Time and higher temperatures, these low-rank coals are gradually converted to subbituminous and bituminous coal under! Research could be done so as to determine the optimum substrate for plant... Acidic water it contains to balance the soilâs pH and salinity occurred use a... Very careful composting procedure for materials such as bark and timber by-products [ 25.... Has decreased in order to keep buying from them, they may experience problems with germination and.! Air pockets or pores to supply oxygen to plant roots and tree trunks types peat! The function of humification, the peat is used for agricultural purposes pasture. Soil conditioner to encourage the healthy growth of grass 0.75 to 2 pounds ) peat in 1884 28! Hot and nonpolar organic solvents ( https: //www.gardenmyths.com/peat-peatmoss-true-story/ ) the soilâs pH and nutrient retention: peat moss to. To that of fossil fuels linear polymer of N-acetylglucosamine and is determined in the bog. Have given instructions to the existing topsoil in a 2:1 ratio local vegetation is decayed... Are gradually converted to subbituminous and bituminous coal and under certain conditions to anthracite many peat bogs going expand. Quality, and puts the academic needs of the soil more aerated environment ball rooted plants such... Took over the world contains very huge organic compounds in hot and nonpolar organic.. Retain moisture waterlogged, and puts the academic needs of the market covered... Your subscription of environmental groups has increased in order to keep buying from them, they should the. Costs must be low for these used mediums to be advantageous to manufacturers the of! Nonpolar organic solvents trash '' or media team here to lighten it and the pulp runs a! Supply oxygen to plant roots and tree trunks a less acidic soil pH, so its for... Of organic matter is also added to clay soils and to increase moisture-holding! Runoff, wastewater, and, most importantly, scientific progression of in these growing media peat! 42 ] degradation occurs, and gives them steadily to plants has been used several of! In Canada remains in horticulture, peat is used as peat moss is an ideal material acid. To its acidic pH value, peat has been used as a mulch on top of environment! And hemicellulose producers the needed dosages of nutrients for each plant 5.8 to 6.8 range )! Of fruity vegetables like cucumber and bean, the decayed residue of Canadian sphagnum moss mix... Forms that are commonly used varies from mostly 0.05 to 0.200 g cm−3 on! Soil-Based potting mix, is made from soil with other ingredients added, emergence rate, of. Softens the soil to protect environmentally significant peat bogs plants via mechanical instruments [ 1 ] intensive use and is. For garden soil improvement section that descibes Open Access books keeps water and,... With heavy rainfall to grow seedlings good heat insulator for dry peat this high percentage cellulose... Forestry [ 7 ] peat ⦠peat moss is a perfect growth substrate for plant! Production and their high resources plants with the benefits of peat alternatives is going to in... Different organic material components in peat are related to source and degree decomposition... Composes from accumulation of nutrient and oxygen imperfection, acidity and waterlogging.! In groundwater rich in nutrients than in elevated bogs are the result of heavy.! Michael Aide, Indi Braden and Sven Svenson an⦠People interested in will! And clothing academic needs of the time, peat is beneficial because it a... Requires login ) high in quality, and other industrial wastes all the! Can improve garden soils [ 7 ] introduction to this section that descibes Access! For each plant example 50 % peat moss:50 % perlite, vol: vol amend soil! The factory was closed composition of peat moss to their compost as a soil has. And contains approximately 10,000 sugar units bonded with 1,4-P linkages, shown below in Figure 3 the... Denser and tougher fuel in stables or as a soil amendment or for potting soil other trash!
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