Fibagro Advance has become the industry-leading woodfibre substrate, renowned for its high consistency. It is available exclusively from ICL for the Irish and UK professional horticultural markets.
“With the Irish industry striving to significantly reduce reliance on peat, Fibagro Advance Standard has been used extensively in Levington Advance sustainable growing media mixes here for the past 15 months,” says Brendan Howell - sales development manager for ICL Professional Horticulture across Ireland. “Originally developed for the nursery stock and perennial sectors, all our associated mixes for the Irish market already contain at least 25% Fibagro Advance Standard; we plan to incrementally increase this to catch up with growers in mainland UK – where 40% is already the norm.
“The original Fibagro Advance Standard is less well suited to smaller pots and units, due to its particle size. However, the recent development of Fibagro Advance Fine means we can now follow suit with Levington Advance bedding and pot plant mixes. Irish growers will benefit from ICL’s experience working with growers in mainland UK, where these products already contain 40% Fibagro Advance Fine.”
“The original Fibagro Advance Standard at high volumes is less well suited to smaller pots and units, due to its particle size. However, the recent development of Fibagro Advance Fine means we can now follow suit with Levington Advance bedding and pot plant mixes. Irish growers will benefit from ICL’s experience working with growers in mainland UK, where these products already contain 40% Fibagro Advance Fine.”
Sustainable alternative
“Fibagro Advance products are manufactured using responsibly sourced materials and have a good environmental profile and offer a better security of supply,” explains Stuart Gammage – ICL technical manager for growing media. “Sourced and produced in the UK they have been rigorously trialled and shown to significantly improve consistency and performance of sustainable growing media.
“While most woodfibres are relatively stable, sustainable inert peat diluent, historically there have been some associated issues relating to slumping, water retention, nitrogen drawdown and buffering.
“In developing Fibagro Advance, ICL has tackled these challenges. Manufactured using a unique thermo-mechanical process – and with the addition of our technically advanced Osmocote 5 and other specially formulated fertilizers and wetting agents – Fibagro Advance significantly reduces the impact of these issues, helping maximise plant quality,” explains Stuart.
Promoting high product consistency, ICL’s thermo-mechanical process produces ‘split end’ fibres which create a unique matrix when blended with raw materials such as peat, coir and bark. With low to medium bulk density, Fibagro Advance helps reduce slumping. With a good balance between air-filled porosity (AFP) and water holding capacity (WHC), they facilitate good rooting, drainage and ease of irrigation management.
Holding plant nutrients
“Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) is a rating of how well growing media can hold plants nutrients,” explains Andrew Wilson, ICL technical manager for Ireland and the UK. “Analysis by ADAS UK has shown the CEC of Fibagro Advance is significantly higher than average woodfibre used in growing media mixes. Fibagro Advance constitutes an excellent material which provides robust peat-reduced and peat-free mixed for optimum growth in professional horticulture.”
Minimising nutrient run off
In the future growers are going to be directly accountable for nutrient run off into water courses. Historically, calcium nitrate has been used in growing media to help supplement Nitrogen (N) for plant growth, however, this can lead to poor rooting due to high EC levels as well as N leaching.
“At ICL we have three innovative alternatives,” explains Andrew. “For short term crops, we recommend Osmoform High N, a slow release fertilizer with a longevity of 8 to 10 weeks. For longer term crops, we have our fully coated controlled release product Osmocote N which provides controlled release Nitrogen over 5-6 months. In addition, Osmocote 5 provides an S-shaped nutrient release curve. Helping to minimise leaching, as the nutrients are released in line with plants’ needs, Osmocote 5 also uniquely offers chelated trace elements, improving their availability.”
Brendan concludes saying; “by manufacturing our own woodfibre product, ICL has complete control over quality and consistency and hence performance, as well as security over continuity of supply. Continued investment in Fibagro manufacturing facilities, together with associated nutrient and water management products, demonstrates ICL’s on-going commitment to helping professional growers significantly reduce their reliance on peat.”