Scarcity of natural resources, shifting demographics, climate change, and increasing waste
are four major challenges in the quest to feed the exploding world population. These …

Professional soilless cultivation systems are competitive agrosystems that use energy and
materials efficiently at the highest level of sustainability that exists in modern agriculture. In …

Rockwool (RC) and peat are two common substrates used worldwide in horticultural crop
production. In recent years environmental and ecological concerns raised the demand for …

The search for alternative materials for peat substitution in soilless systems has led to an
increasing use of compost as ingredient of growing media. These materials may have …

ABSTRACT A well-known planting medium in soilless culture is a coconut based material
famously known in Malaysia as cocopeat. It is a viable ecologically friendly peat soil …

Peat is a spongy substance which is an effect of incomplete decomposition of plant residues
in different stages of decomposition. Between the several organic matters which are used as …

Three characteristics are considered key for optimal use of composts in growing media:
maturity, pH and organic matter content. Maturation is a critical step in the processing of …

Organic fertilizer regimens consisting of combinations of composts (yard waste, swine
manure, or spent mushroom substrate) and liquid fertilizers (fish-or plant-based) were …

Biochar and hydrochar have been proposed as novel materials for providing soilless growth
media. However, much more knowledge is required before reliable advice can be given on …

Horticulturists have long used various organic materials as components of potting
substrates. Since the 1950s, peat moss replaced most of these materials due to its superior …