|
|
More news |
| Improving the image of Cocopeat | |
Many growers have turned away from using cocopeat because high salt content and the presence of seeds and weeds. High salt content is often discovered during an anlysis of water quality because the salts are bound up in the cocopeat and are only slowly released as the plants grow. Rose growers are not so troubled because roses tend to be tolerant of high salt levels. A technique using simple, reliable equipment has been developed to ‘clean’ cocopeat. The technique uses as little water and energy as possible so that it can be utilized in developing countries where the raw material is usually processed. Cocopeat is first washed with chemicals using as little water as possible, to release the salts by binding them to other compounds and keeping them in a soluble form. The resulting mixture is then squeezed to remove the salts and water. This water can be used to irrigate certain crops. The remaining cocopeat is then dried in a closed system using warm air. The main users of cocopeat in the production of young plants, vegetables and flowers are located in Japan and S.E.Asia. One very postive characteristic of cocopeat as a substrate is that it can be very easilt re-wetted after the surface layer dries out, in contrast to ordinary peat. Cocopeat is stable but plants grown in this substrate need frequent low level watering. The technique has been developed by Bucotec BV which is a daughetr Company of TDI which co-operates with Plant Research International, Wageningem, Holland. For further information: www.buwater.com Information of quality marks for substrates can be found on: fax 0031 174 640413, e-mail: info@rhp.nl www.rhp.nl |
|