IR-SPECTROSCOPY AS AN ANALYTICAL METHOD FOR IDENTIFICATION OF HORTICULTURAL PEAT

The process of selecting different peat types for horticultural purposes involves many physical and chemical determinations.
Infrared spectroscopy could be used together with the usual methods for the evaluation of peat quality.

Due to the fact that different peats contain different amounts of infrared absorbing functional groups, each peat produces a characteristic spectrum.
From the spectrum, one may determine the botanical composition, degree of humification, ash content, cation exchange capacity, nitrogen content and carbon content, of the natural peat.
The spectrum also shows whether the peat has been fertilized and limed and in some cases the presence of mineral soil or wetting agent mixed in the peat may be detected.

Symposium on Horticultural Substrates and their Analysis

J. Lehtovaara, M. Herranen, T. Nyrönen, A. MacDonald

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1988.221.12