ISHS Acta Horticulturae 747: VIII International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Advances in Soil and Soilless Cultivation under Protected Environment
COIR - A XXIST CENTURY SUSTAINABLE GROWING MEDIUM |
| Author: | M.A. Nichols |
| Keywords: | disease-free medium, greenhouse crop, wool, peat, cocopeat |
| Abstract:
Soil is not a good medium in which to grow plants. In the field there is little that can be done economically to overcome this problem, but in intensive greenhouse production (controlled environment agriculture) improving the root environment not only becomes feasible but necessary. For some 50 years, greenhouse crop producers in developed countries have sought an economic, disease-free medium in which to grow their plants. Over this period, the only products to gain general acceptance have been rock wool and peat. Peat is now considered to be a limited resource, and the production of rock wool (an artificial medium produced by melting granite rock, and spinning it into a “candy floss like” slabs) is energy demanding. A major problem now with rock wool is disposal after use. In many countries it is now a requirement that the used material is returned to the manufacturer for melting down into briquettes. Coir (cocopeat) is obtained for the husk of the coconut, and is essentially a waste product. It has been used for at least 10 years as a potting medium, but has yet to gain general support in greenhouse cropping. | |
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