It is known that over time, any soil on which crops are grown becomes depleted. Various natural substrates are used to enrich it. One of them is peat.
Peat is a natural fertilizer that is formed from dead particles of bog plants. Most peat extraction is used in agriculture to improve soil properties. There are two main types of peat – lowland and highland.
Let’s look at each of them separately. What is the difference between high-moor and low-lying peat and how to use them correctly.
Lowland peat is formed by the decomposition of particles of tree species, horsetail, reeds, sedges, and mosses, which grow in swampy areas where groundwater feeds. Decomposition with the help of microorganisms occurs in a low-lying layer without access to oxygen. Therefore, this type of peat is dense, rich in mineral components, and black in color. Peat occurs in low-lying areas: ravines, river floodplains.
Lowland peat has a slightly acidic or neutral composition – 4.0-5.5 pH. Rich in nutrients and humic acids.
Lowland peat is characterized by a high proportion of minerals. It is often used separately or together with compost to enrich the soil.
Before use, the peat is dried in small piles. Then cover the soil evenly and dig shallowly. The addition of lowland peat makes the soil more granular, forming small lumps. This allows air to pass through and retain moisture, which is necessary for the good development of the plant root system.
Lowland peat is also used for mulching sandy soils to retain water during irrigation.
When applying lowland peat as fertilizer, the following proportion is observed – 20-30 kg/m².
High-moor peat is formed closer to the surface, where there is no groundwater. Its source of moisture is melted snow and precipitation.
It is based on mosses, herbaceous and shrub plants. Formed in lowland swamps without oxygen.
This type of peat has an acidic composition – 3-4 pH. Low battery content.
High-moor peat is more porous; biological decomposition in it takes a long time. Due to its natural fibrous structure, high peat added to the soil makes it lighter and can retain moisture for a long time.
Due to the high acidity of high-moor peat, it cannot be used immediately after extraction. Some plants grow very well in an acidic environment, for example: heathers, hydrangeas, blueberries, rhododendrons. In these cases, peat is added in a 1:1 ratio to the soil.
The main part of the plants does not tolerate high acidity, so before use, high-moor peat is mixed with liming materials.
It depends on where you are going to apply this fertilizer.
High-moor peat is better suited for growing seedlings. It retains moisture better and creates favorable conditions for the growth of vegetable roots. Sometimes it is used to acidify the soil. High-moor peat is used to make nutrient substrates for growing plants in greenhouses.
Lowland peat is more versatile. It is used as a fertilizer for open ground. It is suitable for most cultivated plants.
