Features of Coir Peat in Modern Agriculture

 Features and Benefits of Coco Coir

 

Coir’s effect on a soilless growing medium will vary depending on its source, how it was processed, and the percent of coir used in the formulation of the substrate medium. The porous and granular structure of coir has similar physical properties to Sphagnum peat moss in that it has high total porosity, and even higher available water holding capacity than Sphagnum peat moss. Coir holds up to nine times its weight in water. Growing medium that contains a base of coir fibre and Sphagnum peat moss can help root and germinate.

Some of the properties that make coir a suitable amendment for combining with Sphagnum peat moss for growing media include:

• Coco Coir Peat is a high-quality growth medium with incredible water-absorption abilities. In water, a kilogram of dried cocopeat expands to 15 liters. It can store many liters of water for months at a time. As a result, plants require less watering

• Coir has a neutral to slightly acidic pH of 5.2 to 6.8. It’s excellent for mixing with alkaline garden soil and has exceptional oxygenation properties, which are essential for root growth that keeps the soil aerated and loose.

• Coco peat is a nutrient-rich material that maintains and delivers nutrients to plants over a long period of time. Coco coir is more mold-resistant and has a higher cation exchange capacity, making it better for plants that need more nutrients.

• Coco peat has good moisture retention ranging from 600-800 percent, and it is an excellent soil conditioner that can carry up to eight times its volume of moisture.

• Coir has a high lignin to cellulose ratio and is more resistant to physical breakdown when handled and processed through horticultural equipment for filling flats and pots. It also has less shrinkage in growing containers over the life of the crop which is important for long-term crops.

• Coir does not have a waxy cuticle to repel water like Sphagnum peat moss, so it does not require a wetting agent. In fact, long term crops may not require a maintenance application of wetting agent.

• Coco coir is beneficial as it has good drainage and aeration properties. It resists bacterial and fungal growth due to its physical and biochemical features and it does not create mud, unlike soil.

• It offers excellent aeration and drainage characteristics. Coco peat can be mixed with various other substances, such as soil and manure or used as a stand-alone product.

• Coco peat is odorless and has a consistent, uniform texture making comfortable to work with since a it is lightweight and fluffy.

• It's entirely natural and takes a long time to decompose. It can be reused upto for four years.

Cocopeat may be compressed to a fraction of its original volume, making it easy to transport. Coir is a quality product with an environmentally sustainable future available at an affordable price.