Title:
Conversion of Biomass to Biobased Growing Media as Substitute for Peat
Author(s):
Larsen, S.U., Hinge, J., Mendanha, T., Zhou, R., Smith, A.M., Knudsen, M.T., Hashemi, F.
Document(s):
Paper
Slide presentation
Abstract:
Sphagnum from peat bogs is used extensively as growing media for horticultural crops, however, the use of peat has raised climate, environmental and ecological concerns in recent years. The aim of this study was to develop bio-based growing media that can compete with peat in terms of quality, production costs and sustainability. The project has included experimental work with various biomasses combined with a range of different pretreatment methods for full or partial peat substitution. Results indicated that stabilization of the growing media is required, either by composting, anaerobic digestion or chemical conversion, and peat is often required in media blends to correct for acidity and high electrical conductivity. Results showed that willow wood fibers composted with an N source could replace up to 50-70% of peat in growing media blends in cultivation of strawberry, Pelargonia and sage. Life cycle assessment indicated that the carbon footprint could be reduced by 80-98% by full substitution of peat with biobased growing media. A 25% substitution of peat would reduce the carbon footprint by 25-37%. Further work on optimization of pretreatments for biomass is required to increase the proportion of biobased components in growth substrates.
Keywords:
biomass, peat, sustainability, pretreatment, life cycle assessment (LCA), growing media
Topic:
Biomass Conversion to Bio-Based Products and Chemicals
Subtopic:
Processes for bio-based chemicals and materials
Event:
30th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
6AO.6.2
Pages:
1018 - 1020
ISBN:
978-88-89407-22-6
Paper DOI:
10.5071/30thEUBCE2022-6AO.6.2
Price:
FREE
