As if the zip crisis , fertilizer cost step-up , and Labor Department dearth were n’t enough , growers have to lot with a looming ban on peat . The UK has already banned peat for home growers , and while it ’s probably endure to take a longer sentence to enforce that on commercial cultivator , the whole horti human beings is already front for alternatives . “ The thing is , however , that it ’s unfeasible to think of a unique material that is going to replace peat 1:1 , ” say Pirita Luolamaa - Vollebregt from Novarbo Oy .
Alternatives to peat?Over time , alternatives have been canvas . “ For instance , acrotelm was seen to have similar features to peat . This is the top bed of bog , where there is a lot of different flora . Unlike peat , which takes thou of years to be ready to harvest , acrotelm is much more sustainable as it can be regrown in the same farming after 20 - 40 years . When focusing on areas where the legal age of acrotelm is Sphagnum moss , acrotelm is very suited to be used as substrate ”
However , while acrotelm is nothing young , there have been some issues with it . “ Acrotelm holds body of water much better than peat , and actually too well . It should be mixed with other materials to make an optimal substrate , ” Pirita keep on . Not only that , but harvesting acrotelm is expensive , and the volume one gets did n’t justify its commercialisation . “ Because there has n’t been in the past a push to end peat use , invention in the acrotelm production blank has been on a rather small scale . “ But now , we are take to the dot where we can new harvest large volumes of acrotelm to be used in dissimilar substrates . The current price increase of all other naked as a jaybird materials makes it financially feasible too . ”
Not a unique materialYet , while acrotelm is very similar to peat with regards to low pH , it ’s airy , and its too good water supply retention , it still does n’t make it a perfect substitute . “ Few years ago , it became clean to me that acrotelm can not be the only solution to bring on peat - free Mosswool ( organic slab of Novarbo ’s ) , so I started pushing testing on the woods vulcanized fiber . ” Thus , it is the combining of the wet acrotelm with dry wood fibers that would make for a substratum that is very alike to peat . “ That ’s because if we ’d need something completely peat - barren , we have to think of unlike textile combinations that eventually would provide growers with the same welfare as peat . For instance , 25 % acrotelm and 75 % wood fiber makes an absolutely suitable choice to peat . ” That ’s why Novarbo has decided to build their own wood fibre manufactory which will be in cognitive operation next calendar month .
While Novarbo will soon start production of this fresh substratum , the company has been offer Mosswool , which , unlike stone wool , can be compost with the respite of support material after the harvesting season . “ The issue with some other substrates has to do with how to cast away of it , ” Pirita point out . “ With the rising energy costs , it is even more significant to let in also the recycling process when look at sustainability . Mosswool contains Mrs. Henry Wood fiber and acrotelm that gives more air and weewee retention capability for the slab , which can be easily composted . The outcome is no waste product but a worthful ingredient to make new substratum . That is what I call circular ! ”
Thus , there are alternatives to peat that may provide the same benefits , but this all would come at a cost . “ Compared to Department of Energy production the gardening industry has historically been responsible for the small percentage of globose peat using up . Considering how cheap it was , it goes without sound out that it always was the preferred selection . Yet , now that thing need to change , we have to correct for that time recede . Unfortunately , change over to altogether peat - free culture will be quite pricey . ”
A joint effortThat does n’t anyway intend that the change is not possible . After all , this is all a matter of change habit and behavior , but it may not be much of a shock therapy if a different part of the time value chain plays its part . “ Supermarkets , for instance , ” Pirita tell . “ Many consumers have prove that they are uncoerced to pay the extra cent if the produce they are buying is deserving it . ” And this worth is not only given by the flavor profile only , but it necessitate also the way suppose green goods is arise . “ If supermarket will begin demanding specific product standards for the greens they sell , then raiser would have to slowly alternate to more sustainable production methods . At the same prison term , consumers will become even much savvier , and will buy more and more sustainably grown produce even at higher cost . ”
Pirita understand that the higher price of sustainable solutions may be unvoiced for some growers to give . “ But it ’s important to show that dissimilar way of life are possible . It is a really intriguing job finding commercial choice , but if we stop trying , we ’ll never make it . The whole Ernst Boris Chain must conduce to this . ”
For more information : Novarbo OyLauttakyläntie 570 , 27510 EuraPhone ( 02 ) 5491 680Fax ( 02 ) 5491 660
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