Peat, horticulture and environment

Robertson, Robert A.

doi:10.1007/bf00056747

Cited by 91 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The expense of peat is expected to increase in the coming decades due to production costs, competing uses for peat, and its perception as being unsustainable (Barrett et al, 2016;Carson et al, 2009). Such a perception in part stems from the negative impacts on wetland ecosystems of some peat mining operations (Barkham, 1993;Robertson, 1993), though the sustainability of peat harvesting is a subject of debate (Chapman et al, 2003;Hood, 1999). Peat mining operations and the eventual decomposition of peat after its use in substrates represents a transformation of a terrestrial C sink of global importance into a net C source, with climate change forcing effects (Cleary et al, 2005;Gorham, 1991).…”

Section: Additional Advantages and Possibilities Of Bc Substitution Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The organic component provides high porosity, low bulk density, and nutrient retention (e.g., water, nutrient ions) (Raviv et al, 1986), which makes Sphagnum peat moss a strongly suitable option with widespread use (Carlile et al, 2015;Robinson and Lamb, 1975). However, increasing expense and competing uses for peat (Caron et al, 2015), impacts of its harvest on wetland ecosystems (Barkham, 1993;Robertson, 1993), including loss of peat bogs as a key global C sink (Cleary et al, 2005), and its perception as unsustainable (Caron et al, 2015) have spurred recent investigations of substitutes for peat in soil-free substrates, including biomass waste products such as compost and sawdust (e.g., Ceglie et al, 2015;Maas and Adamson, 1972;Wright et al, 2009;Álvarez et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Substitution of peat moss with softwood biochar for soil-free marigold growth

Margenot

Griffin

Alves

et al. 2018

Industrial Crops and Products

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A B S T R A C TPeat moss has historically been a key component of soil-free substrates in the greenhouse and nursery industries. However, the increasing expense of peat, negative impacts of peat mining on wetland ecosystems, and growing perception of peat as unsustainable have led to investigation for alternatives. Biochar (BC) is a promising substitute for peat, yet the majority of studies examine additions of BC to peat-based substrates rather than replacing the peat component or employ relatively low substitution rates. Furthermore, at high substitution rates the alkalinity common to many BCs may increase substrate pH and adversely impact plant production. We evaluated BC substitution for peat and pH adjustment of resulting substrates on marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) performance under standard greenhouse conditions. A high pH (10.9) softwood BC (800°C) was substituted for peat in a standard 70:30 (v/v) peat:perlite mixture at 10% total volume increments. Substrate pH was either not adjusted or adjusted to pH 5.8 using a BC by-product, pyroligneous acid (PLA). Germination was inhibited in pH adjusted substrates with high BC substitution (50-70% total substrate volume) likely due to higher dosages of PLA needed to neutralize pH. At harvest (flowering stage, 9 weeks) the initial pH gradient (4.4-10.4) in substrates that were not pH adjusted had converged to pH 5.6-7.5, and BC substitution for peat did not negatively impact marigold biomass or flowering. At low substitution rates (10-30% total substrate volume), marigold biomass and leaf SPAD values were greater than the control peat-perlite mixture (0% BC). This study demonstrates that softwood BC can be considered as a full replacement for peat in soil-free substrates, and even at high rates (70% total substrate volume) does not require pH adjustment for marigold production. Crop-and BC-specific considerations and economic potential should be investigated for wider application.

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Section: Additional Advantages and Possibilities Of Bc Substitution Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Substitution of peat moss with softwood biochar for soil-free marigold growth

Margenot

Griffin

Alves

et al. 2018

Industrial Crops and Products

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“…Although the amount of peatmoss reserve is still significant, the need to find environmentally friendly substrates is increasing due to the annually decreasing volume of global peatland, the fragility of peatlands' natural environments, and the large demand for peatmoss in the horticultural industry [5][6][7]. In Europe, environmental, scientific, and governmental agencies have proposed to limit the use and extraction of peatmoss [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poinsettia Growth and Development Response to Container Root Substrate with Biochar

et al. 2018

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A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the growth and development of poinsettia 'Prestige Red' (Euphorbia pulcherrima) grown in a commercial peat-based potting mix (Sunshine Mix #1) amended with biochar at 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, or 100% (by volume) at four different fertigation regimes: F1: 100 to 200 mg·L −1 nitrogen (N), F2: 200 to 300 mg·L −1 N (control), F3: 300 to 400 mg·L −1 N, or F4: 400 to 500 mg·L −1 N. The experiment was a two-factor factorial design with 10 replications for each combination of biochar by fertigation. As the percentage of biochar increased, root substrate pore space and bulk density increased, while container capacity decreased. Root rot and red bract necrosis only occurred in F4 combined with 100% biochar. Plants grown in 40% biochar had a similar growth and development to those in 0% biochar. Up to 80% biochar, plants exhibited no significant change, except in terms of dry weight, which decreased at higher biochar percentages (60% and 80%). In summary, at a fertigation rate of 100 mg·L −1 N to 400 mg·L −1 N, up to 80% biochar could be used as an amendment to peat-based root substrate with acceptable growth reduction and no changes in quality.

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“…since it provides adequate aeration, moisture retention and support for the seedlings (Raviv et al, 1986). However the use of peat involves the exploitation of non-renewable resources and the degradation of highly valuable ecosystems like peatlands (Robertson, 1993). In many countries several restrictions have been established for the use of this material due to environmental concerns and, as a consequence, peat has become a rather scarce and expensive potting substrate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compost and vermicompost as nursery pot components: effects on tomato plant growth and morphology

Lazcano

Arnold

Tato

et al. 2009

Span. j. agric. res.

151

101

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Post transplant success after nursery stage is strongly influenced by plant morphology. Cultural practices strongly shape plant morphology, and substrate choice is one of the most determining factors. Peat is the most often used amendment in commercial potting substrates, involving the exploitation of non-renewable resources and the degradation of highly valuable peatland ecosystems and therefore alternative substrates are required. Here the feasibility of replacing peat by compost or vermicompost for the production of tomato plants in nurseries was investigated through the study of the effect of increasing proportions of these substrates (0%, 10%, 20%, 50%, 75% and 100%) in target plant growth and morphological features, indicators of adequate post-transplant growth and yield. Compost and vermicompost showed to be adequate substrates for tomato plant growth. Total replacement of peat by vermicompost was possible while doses of compost higher than 50% caused plant mortality. Low doses of compost (10 and 20%) and high doses of vermicompost produced significant increases in aerial and root biomass of the tomato plants. In addition these treatments improved significantly plant morphology (higher number of leaves and leaf area, and increased root volume and branching). The use of compost and vermicompost constitute an attractive alternative to the use of peat in plant nurseries due to the environmental benefits involved but also due to the observed improvement in plant quality.Additional key words: peat moss, plant nursery, soil-less substrate, Solanum lycopersicum L. Resumen Compost y vermicompost como componentes de sustratos artificiales de cultivo en viveros: efectos en el crecimiento y morfología del tomateTanto las prácticas de cultivo en los viveros como la elección del tipo de sustrato tienen una gran influencia sobre la morfología de las plántulas y por lo tanto en su adaptación post transplante. Aunque la turba es uno de los sustratos más utilizados en viveros, su uso conlleva la explotación de un recurso no renovable y la degradación de las turberas, por lo que se hace necesaria la búsqueda de sustratos alternativos que puedan reemplazarla total o parcialmente. En este trabajo se investigó la posibilidad de reemplazar la turba por compost o vermicompost en la producción de plántulas de tomate, mediante el estudio de los efectos de proporciones crecientes de estos sustratos (0%, 10%, 20%, 50%, 75% y 100%) en parámetros morfológicos y de crecimiento claves para la adaptación post transplante. Compost y vermicompost mostraron ser sustratos adecuados para el crecimiento de las plántulas. La sustitución total de la turba sólo fue posible con vermicompost mientras que las dosis de compost mayores que el 50% produjeron la mortalidad de las plántulas. Las dosis bajas de compost (10 y 20%) y altas de vermicompost, produjeron incrementos significativos en la biomasa aérea y radicular de las plantas. Además estas dosis mejoraron de forma significativa su morfología (número de hojas, superficie foliar, volume...

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Peat, horticulture and environment

Cited by 91 publications

References 3 publications

Substitution of peat moss with softwood biochar for soil-free marigold growth

Substitution of peat moss with softwood biochar for soil-free marigold growth

Poinsettia Growth and Development Response to Container Root Substrate with Biochar

Compost and vermicompost as nursery pot components: effects on tomato plant growth and morphology

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