Peat from the chemical point of view, is a complex mixture of mineral and organic components. The content of mineral components should be it is not more than 50% in terms of dry substance. The presence of mineral components and their quantity determine the ash content of the peat. Everything else is organic decomposition products of plants, structureless (amorphous) organic matter (compost, humus). In its natural state peat contains 86-95% water. The detrimental impact of peat extraction on the environment and climate has been recognised for many years and it is expected that the practice will be banned at some point in the not too distant future. The Government stated in May 2021, supported by the wildlife conservation organisations, that sales of peat compost to gardeners will be banned from 2024, with the intention of eliminating all peat use by amateur gardeners, industrial growers and procurers by 2030 at the latest, by switching to more sustainable, peat-free alternatives. Credits Soluble Na + and K + were determined with a flame photometer, and Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ were measured by titration with EDTA [27]. The CEC was determined with a 1 M ammonium chloride solution in ethanol/water (60∶40, v/v) at pH 8.2 [28]. Extracted Na was determined by flame photometry. The end for Fisons came in 1994 when they pulled out of peat altogether. The result was the end of large scale peat digging in the area with the loss of many jobs. However, it was not the end of the peat industry. Restoration for Wildlife

Sterile – Seed and plant growing mediums need to be disease and weed free. Little else grows or survives in peat bogs, peat is virtually sterile and ready to use. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. The harvesting of peat moss can destroy these habitats and disrupt the delicate balance of these ecosystems.Peat moss is formed in wetlands, particularly in bogs and fens, where dead plant material accumulates over time. Peat the ash content is classified into low-ash (< 5 %), crenately (5,1-10 %) and high ash (> 10 %). The high ash content typical for the lowland type, the lowest for peat. Although the same mass of organic matter was added to the soils, the resulting increase in soil organic carbon differed depending on the amendment. This is consistent with Tejada et al. (2006) [30], who reported that the effect of organic amendments on soil organic carbon depended on the chemical nature of the amendments. On the one hand, the chemical nature of the organic amendment is likely to affect the rate at which it is decomposed by the microbial community [35]. On the other hand, the effects of the organic amendments on soil properties will affect plant growth and thus the input of plant residues into the soil [22], [36]. The organic carbon content of soil amended with GSF and FR increased gradually over time, and we assume that this increase reflected increased input from the trees (and perhaps reduced decomposition of that input). Peat moss is formed by the accumulation of plant materials in poorly drained areas. The type of plant material and degree of decomposition largely determine its value for use in a growing medium. Although the composition of different peat deposits vary widely, four distinct categories may be identified:

Integrated peat moss – peat moss group, in the Botanical composition is from 70 to 100 % of the residues of sphagnum moss, of which more than 15% of hollow sphagnum mosses together with the remnants of hollow herbaceous plants.The organic amendments also increased available K in the soil, which agrees with some researchers [45]– [47], who found relatively high levels of available K in soils treated with organic amendments. As was the case with available N and available P, available K was highest in the GSF plots and next highest in the FR plots. The difference in available K content among all amendments can be attributed to their chemical compositions. Thus, some K is released as a result of organic matter solubility and decomposition. Available K slightly increased in GWC and SP plots, perhaps because these amendments slowly release nutrients as they slowly decompose [18]. Peat moss is a popular choice for gardeners and farmers due to its ability to retain moisture and nutrients.

Perlite is also pH neutral and does not decompose over time, making it a long-lasting option. Conclusion Transitional sphagnum peat transitional peat moss group, in the Botanical composition is from 70 to 100 % of the residues of mosses, of which more than 30% sphagnum and 15% wood. Compost is another good substitute for peat moss. It is rich in microorganisms that benefit the soil in numerous ways. This complex is part of what was once the largest continuous tract of Blanket bogs across northern England and is particularly important for the quality of the transition it represents between blanket bog and raised mire. Although much of the land has been afforested, significant areas of the original bog remain throughout the forested expanse and these have been selected to represent this habitat type in northern England. The climate is wetter here than in some other parts of northern England, and this is reflected in the composition of the vegetation, which is dominated by species of cottongrass Eriophorum and a reduced cover of heather Calluna vulgaris. At Butterburn Flow the wetter climate is also emphasised by quite distinct surface patterning of Sphagnum hollows separated by Sphagnum ridges in the largest of the open areas. It is a very good example of the Sphagnum-rich cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix and Sphagnum papillosum vegetation type. Jooné, G.K.; Dekker, J.; van Rensburg, C.E.J. Investigation of the immunostimulatory properties of oxihumate. Z. Für Nat. C 2003, 58, 263–267. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] [ PubMed]

References

However, it is not a sustainable option as it is harvested from peat bogs, which are non-renewable resources that take thousands of years to form. The harvesting of peat moss can disrupt the natural water balance of these ecosystems, leading to changes in water quality and quantity. Therefore, it is important for gardeners to consider more sustainable alternatives to peat moss, such as coconut coir or palm peat.

The organic amendments significantly affected the levels of available P in the current study. Like available N content, available P content was highest in the GSF plots, perhaps because the mixed organic amendment has the ability to solubilize and mobilize P [43]. Moreover, P can be adsorbed by soil colloids, and the mixed organic amendment is able to bind large quantities of macronutrients and thereby to reduce their removal from soil by leaching [44]. P availability was also high in the FR plots, probably because the furfural residue was extremely acidic and thereby helped solubilize phosphate. In contrast, available P decreased in the GWC and SP plots probably because these amendments increased the pH. Field soils are generally unsatisfactory for the production of plants in containers. This is primarily because soils do not provide the aeration, drainage and water holding capacity required. To improve this situation several “soilless” growing media have been developed. The following is a description of some of the most commonly used amendments for the production of greenhouse crops. The demdex cookie, set under the domain demdex.net, is used by Adobe Audience Manager to help identify a unique visitor across domains.

Benefits and Uses of Peat Moss

In recent decades, we’ve turned the kaleidoscope to apply peat’s natural sorption capacity to modern water treatment applications — out of the wetlands and into the built environment. About the Author: Peggy Jones is the VP of sales and research at American Peat Technology (APT). Peggy started at APT nearly 15 years ago and now oversees product development and customer relationships. An auger was used to collect one soil core (0–25 cm depth, 5 cm diameter) from the amended zone of each of three randomly selected trees in each plot on October 11, 2010, October 13, 2011, and October 15, 2012. After drying, the soil samples were ground to pass through a 0.25-mm sieve and stored in sealed polyethylene bags at 4°C until chemical analysis.