MACRO- AND MICRONUTRIENTS IN SPHAGNUM PEATS

30 samples of sphagnum peats of different origin and with differing degrees of decomposition were analyzed with German standardized methods.
Soluble contents of N and Mg (CaCl₂extracts), P and K (CAL extracts), Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu (EDTA extracts), B (hot water extract) were determined as well as total contents of micronutrients (digestion with conc.
HCl/HNO₃).

In all of the different peats analyzed contents of major nutrients proved to be low, especially for P and K; therefore they can be neglected in fertilizing growing substrates, using these peats.
In contrast, Mg and Fe contents are so high, that with most peats any addition of these nutrients is superfluous for the production of substrates according to German standards.
Contents of soluble Mn and Zn are sufficient for growing media in some peats, but B contents are generally low.
Only very low amounts of soluble Cu as well as total Cu are found in all samples.
Therefore an increased addition of Cu is neccessary for substrate production.

Symposium on Nutrition, Growing Techniques and Plant Substrates

K. Teicher, P. Fischer

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1986.178.27