|
BergerFAQ |
| |
|
|
|
| General |  | | | | | | | | |
|
| Q. : Can we find different qualities of peat moss? |
| The quality of the peat moss is the result of field preparation and harvesting methods. Also, depending on the depth of the bog being harvested, the characteristics and quality of the peat moss does vary. New bogs, will provide us with a much "blonder" fibrous peat, while as we go deeper, the peat becomes darker and less fibrous. |
| |
| Q. : What does it mean when ones refers to “self-heating” peat moss? Does it affect the physical characteristics of the peat?
|
| Peat moss is organic matter and when piled for long periods, microorganisms become active in the center of a pile and start multiplying. The microbial activity generates heat and the heat pocket in the center of the pile enlarges.
The physical characteristics of the peat are affected by this self-heating process. Peat that has gone through a high degree of self-heating becomes more water repellent and can be more granular. |
| |
| Q. : What is Canadian sphagnum peat moss? |
| Canadian sphagnum peat moss is a natural organic matter that is partially decomposed. It is basically a plant that grows, creating a sponge- like texture that absorbs air and water. It is a natural, organic soil conditioner that regulates moisture and air around the roots for optimal growing conditions. |
| |
| Q. : What does adding moisture to the peat do? |
| Adding water to the peat increases the volume, often referred to as “fluffing” which increases the aeration that is vital to good root performance. |
| |
| Q. : Where are peat moss bogs found in Canada? |
| Peat moss bogs are found in every province of Canada. Peat moss is harvested in most provinces. Sixty percent of the harvest comes from Eastern Canada, while forty percent comes from Western Canada. |
| |
| Q. : Where can sphagnum peat moss be found? |
| Sphagnum peat moss can be found in many countries, but Canada alone has more than 270 million acres of peat moss available, and only 1/5000 or less than 0.02% of this is being harvested for horticultural purposes. Sixty percent of the total harvest in Canada come from the eastern provinces while the other forty percent comes from the western territories. |
| |
| Q. : How long does it take sphagnum peat moss to form? |
| Layers develop at a rate of 1 to 2 millimeters per year. However, it takes from five to twenty years to have the sphagnum peat moss to start growing again during the restoration process. |
| |
| Q. : What are the advantages of using sphagnum peat moss? |
| Other than being 100% organic and its availabilty, sphagnum peat moss provides ideal growing conditions. It saves water by retaining 30 times its dry weight. Peat provides ideal aeration for strong root development and helps reduce leaching of nutrients, resulting in saving of fertilizer use as well as loosening clay soils and binding sandy soils. |
| |
| Q. : How can I maximize volume with peat lite mixes? |
| When using a compressed peat lite mix, you want to make sure that you are maximizing production by increasing volume and creating the ideal physical characteristics. How a mix is handled can greatly affect the air and water content of the mix. All efforts to select the best components, conscientiously blend them and carefully package the mix can be undone by handling the media improperly at pot-filling time.
Growers should always be aware of several factors that can greatly affect the physical nature of the mix. One of those factors is compaction. Pots, cell packs and plugs should be lightly filled and the excess brushed away. The substrate should not be packed down, and pots and trays should not be stacked directly over one another. Air space can be cut in half or even completely eliminated by compaction.
The second consideration is the moisture content of the mix prior to container filling. Good sphagnum peat has adaptive structures for holding water and transferring water through hollow vessels. When water is added to a mix, the peat will absorb water and regain its natural tubular structure. A moisture content of 45% is the optimum range and when further wetted it can increase in volume by 15 to 20%. Water should be added to the mix before it is placed into the cells/pots. Ideally the substrate should be moistened, mixed, and allowed to sit overnight prior to use. In large operations it is more feasible to add moisture to the mix just prior to pot filling.
How much water should be added to the mix?
If the initial moisture content of the mix is known, you can use the following table, which has been designed based on the weight and bulk density of a mix, to help you reach the targeted moisture content. Note that these are approximations and that the grower’s preference for moisture content may still be dictated by tactile and visual texture.
Once you know the initial moisture percentage, calculate the difference between the target water volume and the initial water volume. For example, if your initial moisture percentage is 40%, the mix already contains 12 US gallons (45 litres) of water per cubic yard. If you want to increase moisture content to 50%, you would add 8 US gallons (30 litres) of water per cubic yard. To obtain this figure, you subtract the water volume for 40% moisture (12 US gal or 45 litres per cu. yd.) from the water volume for 50% moisture (20 US gal or 75 litres per cu. yd.) to give you the approximate amount of water to be added per cubic yard of mix. In this example that figure would be 20 minus 12, for a difference of 8 US gallons (30 litres) per cubic yard of mix. It must be understood that this chart is based on a mix with a bulk density of 168.55 lb (76 kg) per cubic yard. As the bulk densities of mixes vary, the amount of water to be added needs to be adjusted accordingly.
Brian Cantin, Grower Specialist ( Berger)
|
| |
| |
| |
