ISHS Acta Horticulturae 819: International Symposium on Growing Media 2007
HORTICULTURAL PEAT RAW MATERIAL AND ITS PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN FINLAND, SWEDEN AND THE BALTIC STATES |
| Authors: | P. Picken, O. Reinikainen |
| Abstract:
The physical characteristics of peat-based growing media vary due to the botanical composition, degree of humification and moisture history of the peat raw material, and to the handling processes and additives. The physical features and ash contents of different horticultural peat raw materials were analysed using EN Methods (EN 13040:1999, EN 13041:1999, EN 13039:1999). This study includes the results of 104 samples from Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Latvia. The highest mean air volumes were found in white Sphagnum papillosum/imbricatum peat, white Carex-Bryales peat, white mixed Sphagnum peat, white Sphagnum fuscum dominated peat, and in more decomposed Sphagnum papillosum/imbricatum peat. The water absorption varied due to both the humification level and botanical composition of the peat. More decomposed Eriophorum-Carex-Sphagnum peat was the most resistant peat type to shrinkage. In a statistical study, the moisture content at production also had a significant effect on the water absorption and air volume of the peat samples, which makes comparing different peat types with each other rather complicated. The results of the study indicate that using different Scandinavian and Baltic peat types offers good preconditions for adjusting the characteristics of growing media. Both white peat and more decomposed peat groups include a large variety of different constituents suitable for growing media production for versatile crops and growing conditions. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
