Wood fiber in pot plant culture; peat replacement up to 50% in volume?

Abstract

Use of peat and coir in horticulture is under pressure because of the negative effects on the environment. Peat harvesting releases CO2 into the atmosphere and changes the wetland ecosystem. Coir production can cause salt pollution in the country of origin as the product has a high salt level and is washed with fresh water before use as a substrate. HydraFiber, a specific wood fibre product was tested as substitute for (part of) peat and coir in professional potting soils. Wood fibre was mixed in 3 volume percentage ratios (30, 40 and 50 %v/v) with peat or coir. Nutrient content and stability were used to calculate appropriate fertiliser levels for each mixture for growth of a Begonia crop in an ebb and flood system. Addition of up to 50% v/v wood fibre to peat or coir has no negative effect on the rate of development to flowering of a 10 week crop. The ratio of weight/length of the plants is similar for all treatments. Addition of 40% and 50% v/v wood fibre to peat reduces water content by 16% v/v and increases air content by the same amount in the substrate in the range of -6 to -100 cm pressure head. Addition of wood fibre to coir has a similar effect. A lower average water content in substrate mixes of peat and wood fibre indicates it is more difficult to overirrigate but that it also requires a more precise monitoring of both, water content and nutrient status. It also requires a higher frequency of irrigation and more frequent adaptations of the nutrient level in the water supply. Using wood fibre in percentages from 30 to 50% v/v may also require an adaptation in the growing medium used for propagation plugs.

Improving Containerized Nursery Crop Sustainability: Effects of Conservation-driven Adaptations in Soilless Substrate and Water Use on Plant Growth and Soil-borne Disease Development

“…There has been very little work on the impacts of HydraFiber specifically. Although our finding that HydraFiber was more detrimental to growth runs contrary to one previous study, which indicated no negative impact of HydraFiber on begonia growth (Eveleens et al, 2021), our results are consistent with studies in coconut fiber (Arenas et al, 2002;Meerow, 1994) and wood fiber (Zawadzi nska et al, 2021). Our study had an unbalanced design, with fewer replicates for HydraFiber, due to limited availability of this substrate from the collaborating producer.…”

“…There are conflicting reports on the plant health impacts of coir, and in many cases it seems that this product can be harmful to crop growth (Arenas et al, 2002;Meerow, 1994). In addition, coir can cause salt pollution as part of production (Eveleens et al, 2021). As an alternative to coir, there is a new woodand bark-based fiber product, HydraFiber, that can be used as a partial substitute for peat or coir (Eveleens et al, 2021).…”

“…In addition, coir can cause salt pollution as part of production (Eveleens et al, 2021). As an alternative to coir, there is a new woodand bark-based fiber product, HydraFiber, that can be used as a partial substitute for peat or coir (Eveleens et al, 2021). This product is marketed as improving air content, and producers (C.L.…”

“…Swett, personal communication) report that substrate traits appear to reduce risk of overirrigation. Studies on this substrate are only just emerging and thus far indicate no negative effect on rate of development and plant weight:length ratio (Eveleens et al, 2021).…”

Nutrient Use Efficiency and Cucumber Productivity as a Function of Nitrogen Fertilization Rate and Wood Fiber Content in the Growing Media

“…B. [37] points out that the addition of 40% and 50% wood fiber to peat reduces the water content by 16% vv −1 and increases the air content of the substrate by the same amount, which indicates that it is more difficult to overwater, but also requires more accurate monitoring of the water content and the state of the nutrients. Wood fiber media needs to be watered more frequently than peat.…”