What is peat. Peat - so necessary and useful What is peat and how is it formed

Whiskey with the smell of peat. The famous Scottish drink is prepared using natural fuel. It is set on fire under a perforated floor on which barley is thrown. After being soaked and malted, the grains must be dried. Peat burns slowly and smokes heavily. Smoke escapes through holes in the kiln roofs.

These are buildings for the fermentation and drying of barley. On the way to the exit, peat smoke permeates the grains, which gives the Scotch whiskey its characteristic aroma. Peat used because the country is rich in its deposits. Let us find out what a natural fuel is, what its properties and applications are.

What is peat?

Natural fuels are useful fossil. Peat geologists refer to rocks. Doesn't sound like stuff. But, do not forget that loose rocks, for example, are found in nature.

Peat, on the other hand, resembles an earthy mass. Its composition is dominated by organic matter, which is not less than 50%. Basically, these are the remains of plants. The vegetation is marsh, because it is in the marshes that peat is formed. Algae and other flora die off, sink to the bottom and begin to rot. In order for the process to start, oxygen deficiency is needed.

Combustion of peat due to just the presence of organic matter. Self-ignition possible. It often occurs when peatlands are drained. Oxidizing, they catch fire from heat, lightning, and take over ordinary forest fires.

A loose, brown mass with remnants of vegetation does not blaze, but slowly smolders. Not visible, just smoke. Until the peat mass burns out completely, to the lower horizon, the fire will not stop. Therefore, the smoldering of the rock can last for years. We will talk about other features of peat in the next chapter.

Peat properties

Peat - class permeable rocks. Therefore, fossil masses are always moist. The water passing through the peat is purified. Heavy ones, for example, settle in the rock. This is how an inorganic component appears in peat. The water at the outlet becomes clean, harmless to.

From the degree of moisture layer of peat its density depends. In a watery rock, it is from 800 to 1080 kilograms per cubic meter. Dry peat is denser. There are already 1,400-1,700 kilos per cubic meter.

If the density is even greater, it is already stone peat, or rather,. It is into him that the hero is gradually transformed. By the time of the transition to coal, less than 50% of organic matter remains in the peat. They also leave cellulose and.

Due to the presence of an inorganic part, any peat is ash. The point is only in the degree of ash content. Determine it by burning a rock sample. Organic matter burns out. The percentage of ash remaining indicates the mineral content.

Interest is also important humus v peat... Humus refers to plant remains that have decomposed to such an extent that there is no longer the smell of decomposition. Such peat mass dark.

Therefore, the breed with a high humus content is almost. The lightest fossil specimens are relatively young. The organic matter in them has not yet had time to go through the entire cycle of decomposition.

An important property peat in soil, so is the acidity. It depends on the quantity in the breed. With its abundance, the fossil is not sour. This is the most highly valued.

Peat with a minimum calcium content is acidic. There is a hint of breed subdivision here. She has views. The exact properties depend on the classification. Let's move on to it.

Peat types

By the nature of the occurrence, there are lowland and high peat... The latter is formed mainly from sphagnum, cotton grass, wild rosemary, heather and pine. There is little calcium in the rock. Therefore, high-moor peat is always sour.

In addition, such a breed is poor, that is, it contains a minimum of ash elements and humus. As a rule, there is a lot of moisture in the upper layer. This is due to saturation with atmospheric precipitation.

Low peat saturated with groundwater, rich in ash, that is, in mineral components. 6-18% of the mineral components stand up against the 2% ash content of the riding breed.

Accordingly, the fossil contains a lot of calcium, which means that the environment of lowland peat is neutral or slightly acidic. Lowland peat is also rich in organic matter. Its not less than 70%. These are mainly rotted sedge, alder and moss varieties.

In terms of occurrence, the name of the subclasses is implicit. High-moor peat is not necessarily found near the surface of bogs, and low-lying peat is at their bottom. But it is true that the depleted fossil is found in areas with harsh climate conditions, poor vegetation. Usually, these are flat bogs without underwater sources. Such reservoirs "feed" only on melted snow and rainwater.

Soil-peat lowland type is formed in swamps located in ravines, near river beds. Groundwater availability is required. They are always saturated with minerals, which are transferred to the peat, providing it with a high ash content.

By the way, scientists also distinguish the transitional stage of the breed. Its ash content is 3-5%. Usually, this is low-lying peat, but not yet completed its formation.

Fossil miners have a different answer to the question, what kind of peat is... They talk about the carved variety, excavator rock, milling and hydrated peat. What is this classification, we will figure it out below.

Peat extraction

The latter classification is related to the methods of peat extraction. Once upon a time he was only one. The rock was dug out by hand with shovels. Now, for the extraction of peat, a technique is used. Its first type is hydromechanisms.

Hence the name hydro-peat. It is extracted by erosion with a high pressure jet. It remains to suck out the rock with a peat sucker. The method is complicated and expensive, and therefore, it is justified only in large-scale farms.

Milling peat is produced by a milling drum. They cut layers of rock in open deposits. This is the most common way of mining. So 80% of peat is extracted not only in the world, but also in the world.

Most of all, by the way, the rocks are mined in Finland. Slightly less is extracted from the bowels of Latvia, Switzerland, Ireland, Canada. Russia is also on the list of leaders in peat extraction. It is supplied by the Arkhangelsk, Perm, Vladimir, Moscow, Tver and Nizhny Novgorod regions.

Carved peat is also cut, but by hand. Excavator rock remains. It is lumpy. The production is carried out by a disk excavator. The method is selected not only depending on the terrain, occurrence of the fossil, but also the degree of its decomposition.

It is the largest in wood peat... It is at least 40% composed of wood residues. It's almost coal. Peat medium decomposition is called herbaceous, and minimal decomposition is called moss. Here, in fact, is another classification of the breed.

After extracting peat, it is dried. The fossil is laid out underneath, waiting for the moisture to evaporate. Sometimes, it is necessary to get rid of water at the initial stages of production. We are talking about developments in swampy areas.

They need to be drained. Otherwise, the technique will get bogged down in swamps. In addition, vegetation must be removed from the surface before peat extraction. Stumps are uprooted, shrubs and cut off.

Peat application

Peat is widely used in agriculture. First of all, the breed fertilizes the soil and improves its structure, for example, makes it more porous and loose. Fertilizes the earth with a fossil due to humic.

They accelerate crop growth and promote active fruiting. Humates contain amino acids that convert many minerals into a form that can be assimilated by plants. It is not enough to add top dressing to the kidney, it must be acceptable.

Peat is porous, therefore it is used as bedding for. In livestock stalls, the breed absorbs excess moisture and odors. In addition, peat has disinfecting properties. The bactericidal action prevents a number of animal diseases.

Due to its ability to burn, peat is also used as a fuel. There is oxygen in the fibers of the rock. Therefore, the fossil can ignite without access of gas from outside. This explains the burning of peat bogs at a depth, underground.

However, the energy output of the breed is small. Therefore, industrialists use coal and oil products more often. However, in the 1920s, the first power plants in the USSR operated on peat., kidneys. Recommended "Torfot" and for eczema. The role is played by the same bactericidal effect of peat.

Many spas offer fossil baths. They help, for example, against arthritis and rheumatism. The price tag for the procedure depends on the level of the SPA, its location. Therefore, we will get acquainted with peat, considering the proposals of the breed in its original form.

Peat price

The cost of peat depends on its type. For the grassroots they ask for more. If you take in tons, 1,000 kilograms will cost about 800-1,200. The horse breed is also purchased for 300-500 rubles per ton. But, this is for wholesale deliveries.

If you take bags, for example, 60 kilos each, you will give 250 rubles only for one package. It will be enough to fertilize the garden, but not to eliminate the consequences of an ecological disaster, and it is possible. Peat easily absorbs from the surface of the oceans during fuel spills, saving the environment, marine life and coastal zones.

50-60%, 5-6.5%, 30-40%, 1-3%, 0.1-1.5% (sometimes 2.5) per combustible mass. In the component composition of the organic mass, the content of water-soluble 1-5%, 2-10%, easily hydrolysable compounds 20-40%, 4-10%, 15-50%, 5-20%.

	Forest subtype	Forest subtype		Mud subtype
	Tree group	Woody herb group	Wood-moss group	Herbal group	Grass-moss group	Moss group
Lowland	Alder Birch Lowland pine	Arboreal Woody sedge lowland	Woody hypnum Woody sphagnum lowland	Horsetail Reed Sedge Rotational Scheuchzeria lowland	Sedge-hypnum Lowland sedge-sphagnum	Hypnum-lowland Sphagnum lowland
Transition	Woody transitional	Woody sedge transitional	Wood-sphagnum transitional	Sedge transitional Scheuchzeria transitional	Sedge-sphagnum transitional	Hypnosis transient Sphagnum transition
Horse	Pine horse	Pine-cotton grass	Pine-sphagnum	Pushy Scheuchzerian horse	Pushitz-sphagnum Scheuchzeria-sphagnum	Medium peat Fuscum peat Complex horse Sphagnum-hollow

Peat deposits - industrial accumulations, clearly delimited geographically and not associated with other accumulations. The size of the area occupied by peat deposits and bogs in the world is about 350 million hectares, of which about 100 million hectares are of industrial importance. On the territory of Western Europe there are 51 million hectares, Asia - over 100 million hectares, North America - over 18 million hectares. Data on reserves and production in the USSR and abroad are given in table. 2. Explored reserves in the USSR by region are given in table. 3.

The study of the peat fund in the economic regions of the country is uneven. So, in the Central region of the RSFSR over 70% of the fund has been explored in detail, and in the West Siberian region, detailed exploration is 0.6% of the fund of the region and 82.8% is the forecast estimate.

The search for peat deposits includes the analysis of cartographic and aerial photographic materials, the prospecting and exploration stage is supplemented by field work. Preliminary exploration is carried out on deposits with an area of over 1000 hectares to determine the feasibility of their use. Detailed exploration is carried out in order to obtain data for drawing up a project for the development and use of a peat deposit.

Northwestern

Central

Central black earth

Volgo-Vyatsky

Povolzhsky

Ural

West Siberian

East Siberian

Far Eastern

Kaliningrad region

Ukrainian SSR

Byelorussian SSR

Latvian SSR

Lithuanian SSR

Estonian SSR

Georgian SSR

Armenian SSR

Development of peat deposits. Development is preceded by drying and surface preparation. Preparation of the surface of the deposit is carried out after the construction of the drainage network and the completion of the preliminary drainage of the deposit ( rice. 3). Regardless of the purpose for which the deposit will be used, woody and sometimes moss vegetation is removed from its surface, the developed layer of the deposit at a depth of 25-40 cm is freed from wood inclusions or they are crushed into fractions of less than 8-25 mm. The field surface, divided by carts and shafts into certain sections (maps), is planned in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to the shafts and profiled with a transverse slope towards the carts with an auger profiler. The implementation of these works contributes to a decrease in the level of groundwater and a decrease in peat deposits up to 86-89%, which ensures efficient operation of mining and harvesting mechanisms. All operations of surface preparation of a peat deposit are mechanized (see Peat machines). Removal of woody vegetation during preparation includes cutting (felling) trees and shrubs with simultaneous packing and laying of trees in bags on the surface of the fallow with a special machine ( rice. 4). Then the packages are loaded onto tractor dump trailers and transported to intermediate rail depots. Stumps and wood inclusions are removed from the fallow by grubbing machines or processed by deep milling machines ( rice. 5) with the subsequent and removal of wood residues outside the fields. To obtain with average conditioning properties, machines for deposits or drainage-processing machines are used, extracting peat mass from the layer of deposits with cutters or bars, processing and spreading the layer on the surface of the field. Small wood residues and chips are removed from the working surface of the cards by machines with a piercing or drum-chain working body.

The high degree of decomposition finds various applications in agriculture (Table 4). It is used for composting ( rice. 7), mixtures with and, for the production of peat-ammonia and peat-mineral-ammonia

Probably everyone knows what peat is? For those who do not know, I will reveal a "terrible" secret: peat is rotted (to a greater or lesser extent) compressed remains of plants and animals. In nature, peat is formed in swamps, in conditions of high humidity and difficult air access. It is used as a combustible material (contains up to 60% carbon), fertilizer and heat-insulating material.

How peat is formed

Plants and organisms living in swamps, in overgrown reservoirs, lakes with low-flowing water, die over time, forming biomass, which every year more and more layers on top of each other and, accordingly, is pressed. Thus, in conditions of high humidity and lack of air, peat is formed. Depending on the degree of decomposition, riding(almost not decomposed), lowland(completely decomposed) and transitional(intermediate state between upland and lowland).

Peat as fertilizer: pros and cons

Is pure peat suitable, that is, without any third-party additives, for fertilizing the garden? After all, some not very experienced summer residents buy it in large quantities. They are scattered over the beds, under trees and shrubs and joyfully rub their hands in anticipation of record harvests. Alas ... they cannot be obtained this way ... Although peat (lowland and transitional) consists of 40-60% humus, it is highly discouraged to fertilize the site only for them.

Why? Because it is rather poor in nutrients. Yes, it is rich in nitrogen (up to 25 kg per ton), but nitrogen from peat is very poorly absorbed by plants. From a whole ton our green pets get only 1-1.5 kg of nitrogen, not to mention other elements vital for plants. So never fertilize your plots with peat alone, use other types and fertilizers.

It is useful for enriching the land. Due to the fibrous porous structure, it significantly improves the physiological properties of soils of various compositions. The soil, well flavored with peat, becomes water and air permeable, “breathes” easily and freely, and the root system of plants feels more than comfortable in it. I'm talking about lowland and intermediate peat, but riding it is not used at all as a fertilizer, as it strongly acidifies the soil.

It should be noted that there are many plants that require acidic or slightly acidic soil for normal development. These include, for example, heathers, ericas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, blueberries. When planting such plants in a permanent place, it is high moor peat that is added to the planting pit, and then periodically it is mulched with it.

So is “pure” peat (that is, without any additives) needed as a fertilizer? And here a lot depends on the quality of the soil itself. If the soil is fertile, sandy loam or light loamy, then the introduction of peat as fertilizer will give practically nothing, do not waste your efforts and money)) But if the soils on your site are sandy or clayey, depleted and poor in organic matter, the introduction of peat together with other fertilizers will significantly improve the yield and appearance of your decorative pets. The value of peat as a fertilizer can only be considered in combination with other types of organic and mineral fertilizers and in the form of composts.

How to make peat compost

Peat compost includes organic matter: tops, pulled out weeds with clods of soil, wood ash, sawdust, shavings, food waste and other natural ingredients. And the compost heap is arranged very simply. Somewhere to the side, away from the resting places, organize a 2x2 m area.Place peat about 30 cm high on it in the first layer.Pour sawdust (10 cm) on top, then lay tops, weeds, food residues mixed with garden soil. Make this layer 20 cm high.

If you have manure, great! Place it on top of the above layers to a height of 20 cm. Any manure will do: horse, mullein, bird droppings, etc. Now cover this entire multi-layer structure with another layer of peat (20-30 cm) and leave to rot for 12-18 months. Do not raise the compost heap to a height of more than 1.5 m, but cover the sides with peat or garden soil in order to provide an appropriate microclimate inside the heap. Moisten the compost heap periodically with superphosphate-added water (100 g per bucket).

If you are tight with manure, at least find an opportunity to water the compost with diluted slurry (5 kg mullein per bucket of water). Or a solution of dry bird droppings (0.5 kg per bucket of water) or fresh droppings (2 kg per bucket of water). Thoroughly shovel the compost heap 2-3 times over the summer, trying to get the top layer inside, and the bottom, respectively, out.

It is very useful to cover the pile from the scorching sun rays with a special canopy. Cover the compost heap in autumn: cover it with dry leaves, high peat, soil, spruce branches or other mulching material. And when the first snow pours out, wrap the stack of compost in a snow coat.

Now we can talk about good nutrition for summer cottages, since such compost is in no way inferior in its nutritional properties to manure, and if it has not been overdried and frostbite, then it even surpasses manure in value for plants.

The soil is fertilized with peat compost in the same way as with manure: it is evenly scattered over the sown area, poured into the near-stem circles of trees and under bushes. But here it should be noted that properly prepared peat compost is a more valuable fertilizer than manure, and much less is required to fertilize the soil. If 60-70 kg of manure is usually applied to 10 m² of soil, then only 10-20 kg of peat compost is required for the same area (in addition, it gives off nutrients to plants more generously than manure).

To begin with, it is worth noting that it is impossible to "re-fertilize" the land with peat. They bring it in both in the spring and in the fall, evenly scattering it over the site and digging it onto the bayonet with shovels, 30-40 kg per 1 m². In the future, add peat to the near-stem circles of trees, shrubs and places for planting plants to a height of 5-6 cm.

Such a bedding is especially useful on those soils where, after prolonged rains, a dense crust forms on the surface. In this case, peat also acts as a mulching material. He is quite friendly to any soil and will not spoil any soil with himself. But there is a small nuance: peat has high acidity (pH 2.5-3.0), so it should be neutralized with lime, dolomite flour or wood ash at the rate of 5 kg of lime or dolomite flour per 100 kg of peat or 10-12 kg of wood ash per 100 kg of peat.

So, we examined the beneficial properties of peat as a fertilizer for our green pets. Or maybe you know some other ways to use peat in the country? Share with us!

We all know in general terms what peat is, because we were told about it in the elementary grades of school. However, not everyone understands what it really is, why is peat needed, in what areas it is used, and what dangers it contains. So, it is, first of all, a mineral, and what is more, it is a fuel. Peat is formed due to the decomposition of plants and the accumulation of their remains in bog conditions, which are characterized by the deposition of incompletely decomposed organic matter on the surface layers of the soil, which ultimately turns into peat. As a rule, the layer of peat should be at least thirty centimeters, otherwise such a layer of soil cannot be called peat.

According to some scientists' estimates, the world's peat reserves total up to 500 billion tons of peat. Moreover, in the southern hemisphere its reserves are much less than in the northern one. This is due to the peculiarities of the climate, indicators of humidity and average annual precipitation.

Peat, or rather its upper layers, are actively used in decorative floriculture and horticulture. These layers are called peat soil and peat humus, which are specially harvested, and today they are even sold in supermarkets. This distribution peat received due to its peculiarity to improve the fertility of the land. However, it is better not to use independently extracted peat to fertilize plants, because harmful substances formed by the decomposition of plants can accumulate in it. Therefore, it is usually eroded within three years, and only after that it goes on free sale and use.

Among other things, peat formation performs a rather important function related to ecology. Due to the fact that peat accumulates the products of photosynthesis, it is able to accumulate atmospheric carbon. Also, peat can serve as a natural filter for water, absorbing a variety of impurities, including heavy metals.

However, the development of peat lands presents some danger. First, the drainage of a peat deposit can lead to an accelerated release of carbon dioxide, which was absorbed by the same peat, and in such volumes that significantly exceed the amount of absorbed carbon dioxide. In addition, peat fires, which can occur on drained peat lands, pose a particular danger.

Increasingly, gardeners prefer to use organic fertilizers as top dressing. One of them is peat. However, you should be aware that it is not suitable for all soils. Yes, and it is necessary to apply this fertilizer wisely, so as not to harm either the plants or the earth.

Read about what peat is, what it is and how to use it correctly in the form of fertilizer in your garden plot in the following sections.

Did you know? Peat is widely used in various fields. It is used as a fuel in municipal services, as a heat-insulating material in construction, as a fertilizer in agriculture, as a raw material in the chemical industry, and as a bedding in animal husbandry. The beneficial properties of peat are used in medicine.

How peat is formed in nature, types of peat

–it is a natural fossil fuel of plant origin. It is a dense mass of black or dark brown color, which consists of plant remains partially decomposed in swamps, mixed with the ground.

In this case, high humidity and lack of oxygen prevent the complete decay of marsh plants. It is believed that peat is the first stage in the formation of coal.

Peat is formed as a fossil in peat bogs, in river valleys, on watersheds. It can accumulate there over the course of millennia. Peat occurs on the soil surface or at a shallow (up to 10 m) depth under a layer of mineral deposits.

Did you know? According to scientists, the world's peat deposits range from 250 to 500 billion tons. Peatlands make up 3% of the earth's land surface.

Depending on the conditions of growth and accumulation of plants that form a given natural material, peat is divided into three types:

riding;
lowland;
transitional.

Basically, the name of the types of peat indicates its position in the relief. Let's briefly dwell on the characteristics of each of them.

About high peat scientific sources say that this is such a mineral, which is 95% composed of the remains of horse-type plants, most often pines, larch trees, cotton grass, marsh sedge, etc.

It forms in elevated areas - slopes, watersheds, etc. It has an acidic reaction (pH = 3.5-4.5) and a low degree of decomposition.

In agriculture, mainly used for composts, container mixtures, as mulch, greenhouse substrate.

consists of 95% of not fully decomposed lowland type plants. Spruce, alder, birch, willow, fern, reed, etc. are most often involved in peat formation of this type. It is formed in ravines and river floodplains.

Lowland peat has a neutral or slightly acidic reaction (pH = 5.5 - 7.0), due to which it has found application in lowering the acidity of soils. It is the most valuable and rich in minerals (contains up to 3% nitrogen, up to 1% phosphorus). Of all the types, it is the most nutritious and common in use.

Transient type contains 10-90% of semi-decomposed plants of the upper type, the remainder is plants of the lowland type.

Formed in intermediate landforms. Has a slightly acidic reaction (pH = 4.5-5.5).

Transitional peat, like low-lying peat, is used as fertilizer for the garden, since it brings enormous benefits to the soil.

Each type, in turn, is subdivided into three subtypes, reflecting the subtype of vegetation from which this peat was formed. The following subtypes are distinguished:

forest;
forestry;
marsh.

Also, peat is divided into groups reflecting the group of vegetation from which it was formed. Each type of peat is divided into six groups:

woody(contains at least 40% wood residues);
woody herbal(contains 15-35% woody residues, among others herbaceous ones prevail);
woody-mossy(contains 13-35% wood residues, among others - mossy ones prevail);
herbal(consists of at least 10% wood residues, up to 30% moss, others - herbaceous residues);
grassy-mossy(in composition: wood residues - 10%, mosses - 35-65%, herbaceous residues);
mossy(contains 10% wood residues, 70% mosses).

In agriculture, peat is divided into two groups:

light (light);
heavy (dark).

Characteristics of peat, useful properties of a fossil

To understand the nature of peat, consider the composition and properties of this fossil. So, peat consists of:

The lowland type has the following composition:

carbon - 40-60%;
hydrogen - 5%;
oxygen - 2-3%;
sulfur, phosphorus, potassium – in small quantities.

Did you know? Some people have a question: "Is peat a mineral or not?" It should be considered a sedimentary rock.

Due to the high carbon content, the average calorific value of peat is 21-25 MJ / kg, which can increase with the decomposition and the content of organic compounds - bitumen.

The appearance, structure and properties of this natural formation change as the stages of decomposition change. So, the color changes from light yellow to black. The structure will also differ from the degree of decomposition - fibrous or amorphous, as well as porosity.

The greater the degree of peat decomposition, the less water-soluble and easily hydrolyzed substances will be in it, and the higher the content of humic acids and non-hydrolyzable residue will be.

Did you know? The properties of peat have been known since ancient times. The first mentions of him are found in the works of the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder, dated 77 AD. Sources have been preserved, which indicate that peat was used in the XII-XIII centuries in Scotland and Holland. In Russia, the study of the fossil began in the 17th century.

The main property of peat is the accumulation of carbon and photosynthetic products.

Adding it to the soil helps to improve its moisture and air permeability, porosity, microbiological and nutritional composition.

In addition, peat is able to improve the health of the soil, reduce the level of nitrates in it, and weaken the effect of pesticides. Thanks to the content of humic and amino acids, it improves the growth and development of plants. It is these properties that can explain why peat is so useful for the garden.

The quality of peat is assessed depending on the level of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus. It is also evaluated according to such criteria, as ash content, moisture content, heat of combustion, degree of decomposition.

How peat is used as fertilizer

The use of lowland and transitional peat in a summer cottage as a fertilizer allows improving the physiological properties of the soil, making it more air and moisture permeable. Peat also has a beneficial effect on the development of the root system of plants.

It is best used on sandy and clayey soils. It is irrational to feed fertile soil with a humus level of 4-5% with peat-based fertilizers. But whether it is worth adding it to the loam is an open question, discussions on this matter are still underway.

Since high-moor peat can provoke soil acidification, it is not used as a fertilizer, used only for soil mulching... However, it is worth making a reservation that there are several plants that require acidic or slightly acidic soil when planting. These include , . Such plants are fertilized and mulched with high-moor peat.

In order to maximize the effect of peat feeding, it is necessary to use peat with a degree of decomposition of at least 30-40%. Also, when applying to the soil, you need to pay attention to such important points:

low-lying peat must be ventilated and crushed before use;
feeding material should not be overdried (optimum moisture content - 50-70%).

Ventilation is necessary to reduce the toxicity of peat. To do this, it is stacked in heaps and kept outdoors for several days, or better - two to three months. In this case, heaps need to be shoveled periodically.

Important! In horticulture and floriculture, peat in its pure form is practically not used; for plant feeding it is used in mixtures with other organic and mineral fertilizers or in compost. Pure application can be harmful to crops and harmful to soil.

In order not to harm the wrong feeding, first you need to know decomposition degree of peat... There is a way to quickly identify it.

To do this, you need to take a handful of peat, squeeze it in a fist, and then hold it over a white piece of paper.

If a faint trace remains or it is not visible at all, then the degree of decomposition is no more than 10%.

A trace of yellow, light gray or light brown color indicates 10-20 percent decomposition.

Brown, gray-brown color indicates that peat contains biomass, decomposed by 20-35%.

With the highest degree of decomposition - 35-50% - peat will stain the paper in a rich gray, brown or black color, while the smear will be smooth. It will also color your hand.

If the peat contains substances that have decomposed 50% or more, the strip on the paper will be colored dark.

The use of peat in a garden plot is possible when:

introduction into the soil to improve its composition;
preparation of a substrate for planting;
as a raw material for the preparation of fertilizers;
as a mulch for covering plants before winter;
for the manufacture of peat blocks for seedlings, fortification of slopes, arrangement of lawns.

It is often used in mixtures with humus, turf soil, and other components.

The main goal of why peat is to be applied is to improve the properties of the soil. To achieve it, peat is applied at any time in the amount of 2-3 buckets per 1 sq. m. This will be enough to increase the level of useful organic matter by 1%. Such feeding can be done annually, gradually bringing the level of soil fertility to the optimum.

When mulching, they use both pure peat and mixing it with sawdust, needles, bark, straw, manure.

Important! Before mulching, you should reduce the acidity of peat by adding wood ash, lime or dolomite flour to it.

However, it is especially useful to use peat as a compost fertilizer.

Peat compost: how to make and how to fertilize plants

There are several options for making peat compost.

Peat and faecal compost. Vented peat with a moisture content of 70% is laid in a layer of 45 cm under a canopy or foil. They make a depression in it, into which animal feces are poured, sprinkling them with peat so that they are completely absorbed. On the sides, the compost is strengthened with earth to create a special microclimate. When the compost material dries up, water it. It will be suitable for use after a year. It is best used in the spring. Consumption - 2-3 kg / 1 sq. m.

Peat and manure compost. For the preparation of this fertilizer, any manure will fit: horse, bird, cow. The principle is to lay in turn a layer of peat (50 cm) and a layer of manure. The height of the bookmark should not exceed 1.5 m. Peat is used as the top layer. Once every 1.5-2 months, the compost should be mixed, changing layers in places.

You should also periodically watered with herbal infusions, an aqueous solution of potash fertilizers, slurry.

Compost from peat, manure, sawdust. This recipe will tell you how to get a valuable DIY peat-based top dressing. It is prepared like a layer cake. A layer of peat is poured down, sawdust with a layer of 10 cm, weeds, tops, food waste 20 cm high are placed on it. Then, if available, a 20-cm layer of manure is poured.

A layer of peat is laid on top. The whole pile should not exceed 1.5 m. It is covered with earth from the sides. You can use this compost after 1-1.5 years. All this time it must be mixed, watered with a superphosphate solution, slurry. Apply in the spring at the rate of 1-2 kg / 1 sq. m.

Important! Compost heaps must be protected from sunlight by constructing sheds for them. In autumn they are covered with fallen leaves.

Compost is applied in the same way as manure - it is simply scattered with a shovel throughout the entire plot, or soil is sprinkled around the plant trunks followed by digging, and introduced into the holes before planting. It is necessary to adhere to the following recommended standards:

for digging - 30-40 kg / 1 sq. m;
in the near-trunk circle, the hole - a layer 5-6 cm thick.

Peat as fertilizer: all the pros and cons

We examined the main characteristics and properties of peat and what it is used for. In this section, we will try to understand the advisability of using this fertilizer, and also compare its beneficial properties with other organics.

The use of only one peat as a fertilizer is not able to give the expected results - it is better to use other types of fertilizing in the form of organic matter and minerals.

Today, when organic fertilizers have become widely available for sale, gardeners and gardeners face a difficult choice of which top dressing to give preference to. If you are wondering: peat or humus - which is better, then we note that they are both good and are not inferior to each other in their nutritional properties. However, much less peat is needed than humus. So, for example, on a plot of 10 sq. m will require peat - 20 kg, humus - 70 kg.

Plus, you need to understand for what purpose you want to apply this or that fertilizer. If the soil is very poor, then first you need to improve its structure with peat, and later take care of its fertility by adding humus. You can also start digging peat, and cover it with a layer of humus on top for a better effect.

Often the owners of infertile plots are faced with a dilemma: peat or black soil - which is better. A huge plus of chernozem is the high content of humus - an organic part that is necessary for plant growth.

However, at the same time, black soil is the most infected with diseases and pests, which jeopardizes future crops.

Peat also contains humus in an amount that sometimes exceeds that found in chernozems. If it is mixed with sand, perlite (vermiculite), humus, then this substrate will surpass chernozem in its properties.

Now you know full information about peat, what it is for and how to use it correctly. If peat-containing fertilizers are really shown on the ground on your site, then do it correctly and rationally, in order to avoid negative consequences.

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