The plant growth is supported by peat via providing appropriate conditions. It can be used as a very good heat insulator for dry peat. After 1992, the extraction of peat in The Netherlands was stopped due to usage of peat lands for energy and industrial production purposes. Some wetlands result from high groundwater levels, whereas some elevated bogs are the result of heavy rainfall. Peat moss is most commonly used as a soil amendment. Peat moss is organic matter that contains decomposed plants--often sphagnum moss. Peat is used extensively as an appropriate media for big quantities of vegetables because of its favorable physical properties, slow degradation rate, and relatively high CEC [23]. The reduction of peat use may increase the cost of horticultural production. Peat moss doesnt contain harmful microorganisms or weed seeds that you may find in poorly processed compost. Peat forms in bogs. One of the main issues of peat is wetting again the medium when it becomes dried. Since the pressure for adopting new growing media alternative to peat is steadily increased, it is almost sure that sooner or later the use of peat alternatives is going to increase. Dried peat burns readily with a smoky flame and a characteristic odour. We are IntechOpen, the world's leading publisher of Open Access books. 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. Virtually all rural households are now connected to the national electricity network, which relies partly on hydroelectric plants and on small and medium-sized peat-burning thermal power stations. It has air pockets or pores to supply oxygen to plant roots and allow for drainage. In the US, the optimum soilless component was determined as bark and peat for crops growing in short or long periods in 1950s [12]. The several obstacles like cost, quality and technical problems provide high proportion usage of peat in media [14]. The function of humification in peat elemental composition percentage [35]. People interested in gardening will probably encounter references to peat moss. Therefore, you can use it for loose soil such as sandy soil which will help its water-holding ability. For example, thick, clay-like soil can be mixed with peat moss to lighten it and give it a more fluffy texture. Also, donât forget to use other soil ⦠The peat is an unabandonable substrate in horticultural industry till now, and environmental impact will prove the usage of peat will continue in the sector due to its high demand and need [40]. By resisting compaction, it ventilates oxygen deep into the soil bed, this phenomenon is commonly referred to as Aeration. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 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. Peatification is influenced by several factors, including the nature of the plant material deposited, the availability of nutrients to support bacterial life, the availability of oxygen, the acidity of the peat, and temperature. The decomposition degree effects the proportion of lignin in an ascending way about the decay resistance of lignin. Peats may be divided into several types, including fibric, coarse hemic, hemic, fine hemic, and sapric, based on their macroscopic, microscopic, and chemical characteristics. Generally, peat is an organic material with low bulk density, particle density, and too high porosity [28]. And then, the initial form of peat was the peat moss litter. In the early 21st century the top four peat producers in the world were Finland, Ireland, Belarus, and Sweden, and most of the major users of peat were these and other northern European countries. Nevertheless, the production and extraction of peat continues still in some part of the world for horticultural purposes in Europe, and it is a big player in the growth media and composting fields [9]. The aeration and drainage is supplied when the macropores are larger than 100 μm in diameter, the mesopores are 100–30 μm in diameter for water conductivity, and the micropores are 30–3 μm in diameter to supply retention of water. 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. With the developing technology, the producers started to use drip irrigation system with the combination of liquid fertilizer which made the producing, harvesting, and transport much more cheaper and easier and then, this business became a profitable way. Plant material decomposes more rapidly in groundwater rich in nutrients than in elevated bogs with heavy rainfall. The conditions seem like the development of mosses. It has a less acidic soil pH, generally in the 5.8 to 6.8 range. I also wouldnât recommend peat moss as a mulch on top of the soil to protect your tomatoes for a number of reasons. Brief introduction to this section that descibes Open Access especially from an IntechOpen perspective, Want to get in touch? In extensive agriculture for a fast production and increasing the profits of sales, ornamental plant nursery production can be the best example which commonly uses the nonrenewable resources. It can also increase to 0.500 g cm−3 depending on the types of plant residues and their decomposition. Peat is used for domestic heating purposes as an alternative to firewood and forms a fuel suitable for boiler firing in either briquetted or pulverized form. Initially, in 1950s, the gardening soil has been used by horticulturists and there has been several components like their composted organic waste and mineral soil used in these mixtures. The ash is powdery and light, except for varieties that have a high content of inorganic matter. The common media used for the systems in Northwest Europe and Israel are peat [2, 3]. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. You can also use soil amendments such as glacial rock dust to raise pH in acidic soils. Uses for BONAPARTE PEAT SOIL. The organic composition of peat is effected by the peat position of decomposition, drastically. When seedlings are grown in unsuitable mediums, they may experience problems with germination and increase seedling cost with inadequate germination. 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. Coir is another alternative substrate that can be used without these problems. https://www.britannica.com/technology/peat, National Geographic - Education - Peat: The Forgotten Fossil Fuel, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - Energy Use of Peat, peatland - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), peat - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In the history, the most used organic material was peat which is extracted from peat lands from decomposed plant matters that have poor drainage. Dry, sandy soils benefit from adding peat moss to retain moisture, and peat moss improves drainage and prevents compaction in dry and wet soils ⦠If you want a lush, healthy lawn, peat moss is a good soil conditioner to encourage the healthy growth of grass. Although peat is not strictly a fossil fuel, its greenhouse gas emissions are comparable to that of fossil fuels. The solid material has most of the components as organic and only 2–10% as inorganic. Peat mosses can also help sandy soil retain nutrients thus, reducing leaching. As PhD students, we found it difficult to access the research we needed, so we decided to create a new Open Access publisher that levels the playing field for scientists across the world. Note: (a) Oak leaves, (b) ND not determined, (c) including humic acids, (d) assuming all nitrogen present to be protein (i) bitumens. Professor Emeritus of Geological Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Due to low quality of products, the numbers of customers of Allagnou’s were declined and the factory was closed. 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. 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]. Somehow, the quality of loam was hard to determine and the cost of transport of heavy mixtures was very high and this situation made an obstacle for growing horticultural industry [10]. 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