Articles
DEVELOPMENT AND STORAGE PROPERTIES OF A GREEN COMPOST-BASED PEAT-FREE GROWING MEDIUM: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
Article number
819_48
Pages
395 – 402
Language
English
Abstract
The initial focus of this research was to establish various trends in green waste production within local authorities within the United Kingdom, for example variation in source and treatment of green waste.
A comprehensive overview of the current green waste cycle was undertaken via a survey titled Management of Green Waste. From the survey, producers of composted green material were identified.
Fifteen sources agreed to participate within a study reviewing best practise leading to the production of material suitable for inclusion in growing media.
However little information is available on the effects of storage on growing media containing composted green material.
Therefore the next step in the work was to conduct a growth and storage trial using varying percentages of composted green material mixed with peat.
The mixtures used in the trial were split, half of the material was stored in a 10°C constant temperature room, and the other half was stored in glasshouse conditions.
From the results gained in the peat-reduced growth and storage trials it was evident that some composted green materials could be a good diluent materials for peat based growing media if the feed stock and production process were monitored.
The final step in this research was to conduct a peat-free growth and storage trial, using materials such as bark that could eliminate some of the issues such as bulk density associated with the use of composted green material.
From the twelve month growth and storage trial with peat, one sample was identified and used in the peat-free trial.
Mixtures were prepared at 0, 10, 20, 25, 30, 40, and 50% composted green material by volume with other alternative materials to peat, including composted pine bark, composted spruce bark, and wood waste in the form of chipboard containing ureaformaldehyde, and again the mixtures were split and stored in a 10°C constant temperature room and in glasshouse conditions.
In trials, the peat-free mixtures proved superior to the peat-diluted medium.
A comprehensive overview of the current green waste cycle was undertaken via a survey titled Management of Green Waste. From the survey, producers of composted green material were identified.
Fifteen sources agreed to participate within a study reviewing best practise leading to the production of material suitable for inclusion in growing media.
However little information is available on the effects of storage on growing media containing composted green material.
Therefore the next step in the work was to conduct a growth and storage trial using varying percentages of composted green material mixed with peat.
The mixtures used in the trial were split, half of the material was stored in a 10°C constant temperature room, and the other half was stored in glasshouse conditions.
From the results gained in the peat-reduced growth and storage trials it was evident that some composted green materials could be a good diluent materials for peat based growing media if the feed stock and production process were monitored.
The final step in this research was to conduct a peat-free growth and storage trial, using materials such as bark that could eliminate some of the issues such as bulk density associated with the use of composted green material.
From the twelve month growth and storage trial with peat, one sample was identified and used in the peat-free trial.
Mixtures were prepared at 0, 10, 20, 25, 30, 40, and 50% composted green material by volume with other alternative materials to peat, including composted pine bark, composted spruce bark, and wood waste in the form of chipboard containing ureaformaldehyde, and again the mixtures were split and stored in a 10°C constant temperature room and in glasshouse conditions.
In trials, the peat-free mixtures proved superior to the peat-diluted medium.
Publication
Authors
V. Surrage, W.R. (Bill) Carlile
Keywords
composted green material, bark, growth/storage trials
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