Coconut peat
Coconut peat , also known as cocopeat , coconut pulp or coconut fiber dust , is peat that is obtained from coconuts , often as a by-product of the utilization of the coconut fruit by other branches of industry. The coconut fiber waste from coconut fiber industries is washed, heated, sieved and sorted before it is processed into coconut peat products. These products differ in their grain size and density and are used in horticulture , agriculture and as industrial absorbents.
Since coconut peat products are usually shipped in the form of compressed bales, briquettes, tiles or slices, it is often necessary for the end user to expand the coconut peat products by adding water. One kilogram of coconut peat would expand to 15 liters of wet coconut peat.
Trichoderma is a naturally occurring fungus in coconut peat; it works in symbiosis with the plant roots to protect them from harmful fungi such as B. Pythium to protect. Trichoderma is not found in sterilized coconut peat and can bedestroyedwith hydrogen peroxide .
use
Botanical use
Coconut peat is used as a soil additive . Because of the low levels of nutrients in its composition, coconut peat is usually not the only ingredient in the medium used for growing crops. If plants are grown exclusively in coconut peat, it is important to add additional nutrients to the coconut peat according to the specific needs of the plant. Coconut peat from Sri Lanka and India in particular contains several plant-based macro and micronutrients, including substantial amounts of potassium . However, this additional potassium can impair the availability of magnesium, so that additional magnesium may have to be added by adding Epsom salts in order to counteract a deficiency symptom.
When it arrives, coconut peat has not yet completely decayed and will use up available nitrogen ("drawdown"), which may compete with the plant if there is not enough nitrogen available. Inferior processed coconut peat can contain an excess of salts and must be "washed" accordingly. The cation exchange capacity of coconut peat is similar to that of peat moss, in addition, coconut peat stores water well, repeatedly moisturizes and can contain up to 1000 times more air than normal soil. The addition of slow release fertilizer or organic fertilizer is also recommended when growing plants using coconut peat.
Common uses of coconut peat include:
- As a substitute for peat because it is free of bacteria and most fungal spores and because it can be produced sustainably without the environmental damage associated with industrial peat cutting .
- Mixed with sand, compost and fertilizer, coconut peat represents high-quality potting soil. Coconut peat has an average acid content in the range of a pH value between 5.5 and 6.5. While this can be too acidic for some plants, many intensively grown plant varieties tolerate this pH range.
- Use cellulose as a substrate for growing mushrooms, as coconut peat has a high cellulose and lignin content.
Coconut peat can be reused up to three times without significant yield loss, but coconut peat from decayed plants should not be reused.
Other uses
Since coconut peat is a good absorbent, dry coconut peat can be used as an oil absorbent on slippery walkways. Coconut peat is also used as bedding on stockyards and animal shelters because it absorbs animal waste and keeps the farm clean and dry.
Unlike peat moss, coconut peat is hydrophilic and can quickly re-absorb water, even if it was completely dry beforehand. Coconut peat is porous and cannot be easily overwatered.
Biological security risks
Coconut peat can contain organisms that pose a risk to the biosecurity of countries into which it is imported. Coconut peat has been imported to New Zealand since around 1989 , with a significant market growth since 2004. By 2009, a total of 25 new weed species were found in imported coconut peat. Accordingly, the import regulations for coconut peat in New Zealand have been adjusted to include biosecurity measures.
Individual evidence
- ^ Ministry for Primary Industries: Coco peat / Coir fiber . ( Memento of the original from June 3, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (English) March 17, 2009; Accessed February 2, 2013.
