For growers contemplating switching part, or all, of their production away from traditional peat based growing media (GM) to non-peat alternatives, Dean Sandford − our technical area sales manager for the North West − highlights some of the management challenges to consider.
Growers making the move to peat-free mixes need to adapt their current practices and growing systems – particularly watering/irrigations regimes and nutrition programmes.
Little and often watering regime
The physical properties of peat-based GM differ widely to non-peat alternatives. Commonly, peat-free GM mixes contain proportions of coir, bark and wood fibre. As such they are freer draining necessitating a ‘little and often’ watering regime and greater vigilance. Peat free GM can give the appearance of being dry on the surface, while remaining moist below. Failure to observe this can lead to over watering, which in turn causes nutrient deficiencies due to leaching and fungal pathogens.
Boultons have had great success working with Dean Sandford producing quality grown nursery stock in ICLs Levingvton Advance Sustain to market - click here for full story.
Compensate for raised pH and EC levels
Growers should also be aware that peat-free GM mixes tend to have higher pH and EC levels, as well as higher rates of degradability. These can be addressed and compensated by changes in the levels and composition of the base fertilization.
Products such as ICL’s Start & Gro® base fertiliser, with additional calcium nitrate, can balance the degradability and nitrogen draw down issues often associated with peat-free GM - especially where higher proportion of fine barks are used. This issue can be further managed with routine maintenance fertilization.
Meanwhile high pH can lead to Iron and Magnesium deficiency; therefore growers need to give careful consideration to the source and longevity of added micro nutrients. Our Micromax Premium contains high levels of both Fe and Mg in fine granule and has longevity of up to 16m.
ICL's Dean Sandford with team from Boultons
New Osmocote products to help
New for 2016 we have two innovative controlled release products – Osmocote CalMag and Osmocote Iron, both with 3-4 month release patterns. Utilising advanced coating technology, these products are mixed in to the substrate and can be used alongside other Osmocote products or with water soluble programmes.
Osmocote CalMag delivers nitrogen, calcium and magnesium on a daily basis. Some crops such as blue conifers, Magnolias and Hydrangeas are particularly magnesium demanding while others, such as Rosa, Buxus and Taxus, are calcium demanding. CalMag is also ideally suited to pot plant production in soft water locations.
Osmocote Iron is a fully coated fertilizer releasing iron on a daily basis. It is ideal for use in peat-free GM, particularly for iron demanding crops, such as Primulas and Vincas, generating better leaf colour and helping to optimise photosynthesis.
When using peat free growing media, it is particularly important to assess water quality/type. Hard water sources will in time lead to increased pH levels, and compound the aforementioned issues. Conversely, soft water types need to be adjusted to make sure there is sufficient Calcium and Magnesium available for both vegative and generative/final growth phases, particularly when there are high proportions of coir in the peat free mixes.
The use of ICL’s Peters and Universol water soluble fertilizer ranges, when combined with our highly innovative decision support tool AngelaWeb, can take into account your water quality, base nutrition level, CRF and WSF inputs to arrive at a complete nutrition solutions for over 900 crops.
In 2015 ICL entered the professional peat free growing media market with the launch of Levington Advance Sustain - a range offering high consistency and performance. To find out more speak to your area sales manager.
To find out more about Levington Advance Sustain, or any of the precision nutrition products featured above, please speak to your technical area sales manager.