ISHS Acta Horticulturae 294: II Symposium on Horticultural Substrates and their Analysis, XXIII IHC
GUIDE VALUES FOR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF PEAT SUBSTRATES |
| Author: | G. Wever |
| Abstract:
In the Netherlands peat mixtures, especially potting composts, are being used as substrates for about half a century now. During this period growing conditions and irrigation systems have strongly changed. Besides this the base materials to compose the mixtures have changed and show a great variation. This results in a great need for an advanced quality control of the necessary physical properties of peat substrates. In the Netherlands a classification system is introduced in which peat substrates are divided into 5 classes. The classification is mainly based on the volume fraction of air at -10 cm pressure head and the shrinkage fraction. Moreover there are requirements for water content of the fresh sample, organic matter content, volume fraction of water and porosity. The classification is based on crops and growing conditions. The guide values in the classification are provisional. From 1991 onwards they are intended to be used as standards for quality control. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
