Table of Contents
peat, fuel consisting of spongy material formed by the partial decomposition of organic matter, primarily plant material, in wetlands such as swamps, muskegs, bogs, fens, and moors.
Where does peat come from UK?
Commercial peat extraction in the UK and Ireland is largely from raised bogs in the lowlands. Much less peat comes from blanket bog, which is much thinner and more often found in the uplands in Scotland and western parts of the UK.
What plant makes peat?
Over thousands of years, plant materials submerged under water in bogs have broken down to form a type of soil called “peat”. Most common is peat from the sphagnum moss plant. Don’t confuse the peat from dead plants with the actual sphagnum moss from living plants.
Where does garden peat come from?
Peat is produced by the decomposition of bog plants. Normally plants decompose into carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Because peat is formed in the watery environment of an oxygen-free bog it decomposes into carbon. That carbon stays in the bog, locked away from the atmosphere.
Where are peatlands found?
Where are peatlands found? Peatlands are found in at least 175 countries and cover around 4 million km² or 3% of the world’s land area. The largest peat deposits are located in northern Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia (see below).
How is peat harvested?
Traditional peat harvesting involves a farmer or laborer manually cutting thick strips of peat with a large, sharp hoe. (Today, industrial peat harvesting involves huge tractors that scrape peat from the surface of bogs. This scraped peat is then collected into bricks. This is called milled peat.).
What is peat soil made of?
Peat soil is a type of soil made from decomposed organic materials that form over thousands of years. Peat soil has a high percentage of organic matter content from plant materials like decaying sphagnum peat moss. Peat soil accumulates in wetland ecosystems called peatlands or peat bogs.
Do tomatoes like peat moss?
Benefits of Peat Moss The sterile environment that peat moss provides is perfect for growing plump and tasty tomatoes, according to Epic Gardening. The sphagnum peat moss potting mix helps the seedlings to grow strong roots.
What vegetables grow well in peat moss?
Because of its low pH, peat moss is very suitable for vegetables and fruits that require an acidic environment. These include blueberries, pieris, heathers, azaleas, camellias, tomatoes, and so on.
What is vermiculite made of?
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral (magnesium-aluminum-iron silicate) that is mined in various countries around the world, including the USA and South Africa. It gets its name from the Latin ‘vermiculare’, which means to breed worms, and the English suffix ‘ite’ which mean mineral or rock.
What can I use instead of peat?
Peat Moss Alternatives Coconut Coir. Coconut coir, also known as coco peat or coir peat, is rapidly gaining popularity and is the best-known alternative to peat moss. Wood-Based Materials. Compost. Pine Needles. Rice Hulls. Leaf Mold. Composted Manure.
Is peat the same as compost?
Peat moss and compost are not the same thing. Peat moss is a natural product that’s formed as layers of moss grow over one another. (Peat moss is the bottom layer.) Compost is made as everyday waste materials decompose into nutrient-rich soil.
Is peat good for gardens?
Gardeners use peat moss mainly as a soil amendment or ingredient in potting soil. It has an acid pH, so it’s ideal for acid loving plants, such as blueberries and camellias. Peat moss doesn’t contain harmful microorganisms or weed seeds that you may find in poorly processed compost.
Where is the most peat?
Northern Europe, particularly Scandinavia and the British Isles, have the most peatlands harvested for fuel use. However, peat bogs can be found from Tierra del Fuego to Indonesia. Finland, Ireland, and Scotland are the biggest consumers of peat as a fuel.
How does coal become peat?
Peat is the first step in the formation of coal, and slowly becomes lignite after pressure and temperature increase as sediment is piled on top of the partially decaying organic matter. In order to be turned into coal, the peat must be buried from 4-10 km deep by sediment.
Are there peatlands in the US?
At over 6 million acres, Minnesota has more peatlands than any other state in the U.S. except Alaska. The large, mostly unaltered peatlands of northern Minnesota are recognized regionally and internationally for their expansiveness and spectacularly patterned landscape.
What type of rock is peat?
Peat is a naturally existing sedimentary material that is both common and unusual; its origins are due to botanical and geological processes, and significant contributions to any peat deposit are attributable to animals, plants, and diverse groups of microbial taxa.
How long does it take peat to form?
Peat, or turf, as it is often referred to in Ireland, is a type of soil that contains a high amount of dead organic matter, mainly plants that have accumulated over thousands of years. It takes approximately a staggering 10 years for 1cm of peat to form!.
Why do they burn peat?
Burning creates a crust on the surface of peat which increases the speed of water flow across it. Peatlands also store carbon, and they do that well when they are saturated with water rather than when drying out. Burning peatlands also releases carbon which is bad news for climate change.
