Over the years, peat has become known as an unsustainable product. Therefore, in many industries as well as in the horticulture industry, companies try to minimize their use of it and are eager to find alternatives or additions to peat as substrate. However, what is the environmental impact of new or existing other raw materials for growing media? Knowledge center for substrates, RHP, is working hard on making this impact more transparent as well as the production and the expected properties of these growing media products. From February till April, they will also organize webinars (free) about Acting with New Growing Media (NGM). The changes are discussed on the basis of 8 different aspects that characterize a substrate to a great extent .
Hein Boon.
Muab tso rau hauv cov ntsiab lus
In horticulture, peat works very well as a raw material for substrates. However, it has a certain impact on the environment – peat consists mainly of carbon and when it oxidizes, CO2 will be released in the air – and it therefore has become less socially acceptable. However, each raw material has an impact on the environment, for example, coir pith needs to come from far and wood fiber production requires quite some energy. Therefore, it is important to put it in context, explains Hein Boon of RHP. For this reason, growing media companies work together on a European level to create a so-called ‘SubstrateFootprint’. “Currently, in the HortiFootprint, the environmental footprint of flowers and vegetables is calculated by using the Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) methodology. With the SubstrateFootprint we want to calculate the impact of substrates in an unambiguous and transparent manner. The calculated impact forms input for the HortiFootprint. Also, the substrate footprint will enable growers easily to see the impact of the substrate they use or want to use.”
Lub luag haujlwm ntau lawm
On the other hand, it is also important that the different growing media are responsibly produced. In the case of peat, the industry took the initiate to make responsible choices and make the process as transparent as possible. “Most of the peat comes from degraded peatlands”, Boon says. “For these peatlands new opportunities for a healthier future arise by securing the best possible development after completion of peat production. Preference is always restoration which not only prevents ongoing CO2 emission, but also enables recovery of a functional ecosystem that can accumulate peat again. This way ‘Win-win’ opportunities are created for both, nature conservation organizations and peat industry”, it is explained at the RPP website.
Tsis tas li rau lwm cov xov xwm loj hlob, lub luag haujlwm tsim khoom yog qhov tseem ceeb thiab kom tau txais daim ntawv pov thawj RHP. "Rau cov ntoo fiber ntau, yuav tsum muaj FSC lub cim lag luam. Tsis tas li ntawd, thaum saib coco peat, uas los ntawm qhov deb, nws yog ib qho tseem ceeb uas yuav tsum tau saib xyuas kev ua haujlwm thiab kev siv dej. "
Tshiab Loj Loj Media
Qhov thib peb RHP tsis khoom nrog yog muab kev paub txog kev ua haujlwm nrog cov xov xwm loj hlob tshiab. Tau ntau xyoo, tam sim no, kev siv peat tsawg zuj zus. "Nyob ib ncig ntawm lub xyoo 2000, 90% ntawm cov substrates ntawm lub lag luam yog peat whereas nyob rau hauv 2019 nws txo mus rau 63%", piav qhia Boon. "Tau qee xyoo, kev lag luam tab tom nrhiav cov ntaub ntawv tshiab lossis cov khoom siv uas twb muaj lawm los txo lossis hloov kev siv peat." Txawm li cas los xij, kev qhia txog cov khoom siv tshiab rau kev tshaj tawm tsis yog qhov yooj yim thiab ceev. "Txhua yam khoom siv raw muaj nws qhov cuam tshuam hauv kev sib xyaw thiab nws tus kheej tshwj xeeb. Ib tug tsis tuaj yeem hloov ib qho nrog lwm tus. Yog li ntawd, peb ua haujlwm sib sau ua ke thiab sib qhia cov kev paub uas ua rau cov neeg cog qoob loo siv cov khoom no. Peb xav txog yim yam uas tsim lub hauv paus ntawm kev loj hlob ntawm kev tshaj tawm; cog kev nyab xeeb, khoom noj khoom haus, pH-kev coj tus cwj pwm, lub cev yam ntxwv, kev ruaj ntseg, tsis muaj zog (xws li fungi), txee-lub neej thiab daim ntawv thov. Qhov no, piv txwv li, kuj yooj yim rau kev txiav txim siab rau tus neeg cog qoob loo kom hloov mus rau lwm lub substrate. "
In a series of five webinars, starting this Thursday for RHP members (70 companies in total), RHP will start with giving them more information about NGM and how to apply it. From March, they will also organize seminars for all other consultants worldwide, click here for the programme.
Yog xav paub ntxiv:
RHP
Caag 38
2691 MG 's-Gravenzande
info@rhp.nl ib
www.rhp.nl/en/home