PEAT SUBSTITUTES IN GROWING MEDIA - OPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS

Efforts to reduce the usage of the limited resource peat in growing media are made since the early 1980s. In the actual context with rising environmental awareness peat-free or at least peat reduced growing media are up to date for horticultural plant production. But the range of useable peat substitutes is limited, because of physical and chemical characteristics, availability, economics, and last but not least rising competition with thermal utilization for production of renewable energy. Therefore options and limitations of the examined and field-proven peat substitutes green waste compost, bark compost, wood fibre, and coconut materials are discussed.