PEAT SUBSTITUTES ON THE BASIS OF RECYCLED WOOD CHIPBOARD

Wood chips from recycled chipboard were incubated in order to quantify the release of mineral nitrogen liberated from urea formaldehyde resin.
Mineral nitrogen release amounted to about 500 mg L^-1 substrate and varied depending on the chipboard source, the addition of phosphorus and other nutrients.
The accumulation of released mineral nitrogen could be prevented by the addition of 50% (v) sawdust.
Results obtained from incubation experiments were confirmed in composting trials under defined conditions.
The composting process took place in three different phases.
During the first week volatilisation of considerable amounts of formaldehyde could be detected, followed by release of ammonia, which lasted until week 6. The latter coincided with an increase of the media pH above 8. Subsequent increasing temperatures indicated intensive microorganism activity including nitrification of ammonium nitrogen.
The whole composting process lasted about 14 weeks.

International Symposium on Growing Media and Hydroponics

H.-D. Molitor, A. Faber, R. Marutzky, S. Springer

N-immobilisation, nitrogen release, peat substitute, sawdust, urea formaldehyde, wood chipboard recycling

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.644.14