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Peatmoss biomass (Sphagnum spec.) and green waste compost from landscape conservation used as components for develoging a new generation of sustainable produced horticultural growing media (SPHAKO)
Project
Project code: 2812NA109
Contract period: 01.02.2015
- 30.06.2018
Budget: 333,789 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Peat is still the most important component of horticultural growing media. Natural peat sources in Western- and Middle Europe are almost depleted. Besides, the exploitation of virgin raised bogs and the use of peat for the energy sector, the horticulture and fuel markets lead to considerable emissions of climate relevant gases into the atmosphere. This project aims at using fresh peat moss biomass (Sphagnum sp.) and green waste compost from landscape conservation management to develop peat free growing media for professional horticultural purposes. One work task is to model a composting protocol that defines every step towards a standardized compost product with distinct quality properties. This includes the quality of the green waste material used, the time of harvest (in terms of inner plant qualities) and the technical requirements for the composting process. For using Sphagnum as main component of growing media, the plants have to be obtained from their growing area. The second step is to dry the biomass and after that, to find a suitable technique for sanitizing the material. This is important to fulfill customers’ requirements for weed free growing media. Another work task within this project is the development of growing media that consists different proportions of fresh Sphagnum biomass and green waste compost. We will do several plant tests to provide proof of the great performance of such growing media in comparison with conventional peat based growing media. About eight plant species, which are important on the horticultural market, we will test for their growth performance. The tests are divided into short-term and long-term tests to investigate changes of growing media quality and their effects on plant growth during increasing time. Additionally, we will identify changes of physical and chemical properties of the Sphagnum-/compost growing media during cultivation time. These tests will also include growing tests with commercial greenhouse crops in collaboration with the professional horticultural growers.
Section overview
Subjects
- Horticulture
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
