Synergistic use of peat and charred material in growing media – an option to reduce the pressure on peatlands?

    Jürgen Kern Info
    Priit Tammeorg Info
    Merrit Shanskiy Info
    Ruben Sakrabani Info
    Heike Knicker Info
    Claudia Kammann Info
    Eeva-Maria Tuhkanen Info
    Geerd Smidt Info
    Munoo Prasad Info
    Kari Tiilikkala Info
    Saran Sohi Info
    Gabriel Gascó Info
    Christoph Steiner Info
    Bruno Glaser Info

Abstract

Peat is used as a high quality substrate for growing media in horticulture. However, unsustainable peat extraction damages peatland ecosystems, which disappeared to a large extent in Central and South Europe. Furthermore, disturbed peatlands are becoming a source of greenhouse gases due to drainage and excavation. This study is the result of a workshop within the EU COST Action TD1107 (Biochar as option for sustainable resource management), held in Tartu (Estonia) in 2015. The view of stakeholders were consulted on new biochar-based growing media and to what extent peat may be replaced in growing media by new compounds like carbonaceous materials from thermochemical conversion. First positive results from laboratory and greenhouse experiments have been reported with biochar content in growing media ranging up to 50%. Various companies have already started to use biochar as an additive in their growing media formulations. Biochar might play a more important role in replacing peat in growing media, when biochar is available, meets the quality requirements, and their use is economically feasible.

Keywords:

biochar, greenhouse gases, growing media, horticulture, organic matter, peatland, peat extraction restoration

How to Cite

Kern, J., Tammeorg, P., Shanskiy, M., Sakrabani, R., Knicker, H., Kammann, C., Tuhkanen, E.-M., Smidt, G., Prasad, M., Tiilikkala, K., Sohi, S., Gascó, G., Steiner, C., & Glaser, B. (2017). Synergistic use of peat and charred material in growing media – an option to reduce the pressure on peatlands?. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management, 25(2), 160-174. https://doi.org/10.3846/16486897.2017.1284665

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Published in Issue
June 28, 2017
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Published

2017-06-28

How to Cite

Kern, J., Tammeorg, P., Shanskiy, M., Sakrabani, R., Knicker, H., Kammann, C., Tuhkanen, E.-M., Smidt, G., Prasad, M., Tiilikkala, K., Sohi, S., Gascó, G., Steiner, C., & Glaser, B. (2017). Synergistic use of peat and charred material in growing media – an option to reduce the pressure on peatlands?. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management, 25(2), 160-174. https://doi.org/10.3846/16486897.2017.1284665

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