Hort Science Online: Woodfibre - The future of growing media

Woodfibre – The Future of Growing Media

Eleni Siasou

Woodfibre A sustainable raw material for horticulture blends • • • • • •

A popular growing media component for peat reduced and peat free mixes By-product of timber industry Cost effective compared with other peat alternative materials Requires industrial process Wood-based material and has been associated with N drawdown in crops Can shrink in the pots “slumping effect”

Various worldwide woodfibre products Photo by Dr Brian Jackson NCSU

Development of Fibagro Advance ICL’s new woodfibre for professional horticulture industry • • • •

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ICL’s new woodfibre is manufactured exclusively for professional horticulture growing media Thermo-mechanically processed resulting in consistency throughout the batches Manufactured in the UK with local FSC certified wood material ICL’s customised process results in “split-end” fibres which creates a unique matrix when blended with other materials like peat, coir and bark resulting in reduced leaching and increased water and nutrient holding capacity in peat reduced and peat free mixes Its low to medium bulk density provides good structure in blends and reduces the “slumping” in pots

Combined with the strong nutrition packages of ICL, Fibagro Advance has been trialled in high percentages blends and has shown optimum plant growth with no N drawdown

Fibagro Advance

Fibagro Advance – unique characteristics ICL’s new woodfibre for professional horticulture industry

The “split-ends” fibres interlock with peat, coir and bark creating a perfect matrix for root growth

30%

50% Peat reduced mixes with 0-10 mm peat and % of Fibagro Advance

70%

Fibagro Advance – unique characteristics ICL’s new woodfibre for professional horticulture industry The physical properties AFP and WHC of Fibagro Advance are exceptionally balanced Direct comparison with 8 other commercial worldwide woodfibre products

Fibagro Advance - unique characteristics ICL’s new woodfibre for professional horticulture industry CEC of Fibagro Advance is much higher than any woodfibre used in UK horticulture and is close to fine peat and bark that are known for their good CEC levels

ICL’s Trial Data 2019 Series of trials throughout the development of Fibagro Advance • • • •

ICL ran a series of trials with Fibagro Advance to optimise and validate the product before the launch Trials included bedding and perennial plants for short and long term assessment Fibagro Advance has been successfully blended up to 50% in peat reduced and peat free mixes Fibagro Advance trialled up to 100%

Peat v Peat Reduced at 10 weeks growth of wallflowers, pansies, dianthus and primulas Above ground in Control M1

Above ground in peat reduced with 50% Fibagro Advance

Below ground in Control M1

Below ground in peat reduced with 50% Fibagro Advance

Peat v Peat Free at 10 weeks growth of wallflowers, pansies, dianthus and primulas Above ground in Control M1

Above ground in peat free with 40% Fibagro Advance

Below ground in Control M1

Below ground in peat free with 40% Fibagro Advance

Peat v Peat Free at 10 weeks growth of wallflowers, pansies, dianthus and primulas Above ground in Control M1

Above ground in peat free with 30% Fibagro Advance

Below ground in Control M1

Below ground in peat free with 30% Fibagro Advance

Perennials: Lavender, Heuchera, Geranium, Chrysanthemum, Cosmos and Cyclamen at 4 weeks growth-each mix is in 2 rows

M1

CWF

FA

M1:100% peat, CWF: 70% peat + 30% Competitor wf, FA: 70% peat + 30% Fibagro Advance

Perennials: Lavender, Heuchera, Geranium, Chrysanthemum, Cosmos and Cyclamen at 4 weeks growth-each mix is in 2 rows

FA

CWF

M1

M1:100% peat, CWF: 70% peat + 30% Competitor wf, FA: 70% peat + 30% Fibagro Advance

Perennials at 7 weeks growth

M1

CWF

FA

M1:100% peat, CWF: 70% peat + 30% Competitor wf, FA: 70% peat + 30% Fibagro Advance

Chrysanthemum

FA

CWF

M1

70% peat + 30% Fibagro Advance Chrysanthemum

70% peat + 30% Competitor WF Chrysanthemum

M1 Chrysanthemum

Results on the very high percentages of Fibagro Advance 4 weeks growth – trial was out of normal growing season (planted at late autumn) Wallflowers

Pansies

0%

30%

50%

70%

0%

100%

30%

Violas

0%

30%

50%

70%

100%

50%

70%

100%

All 3 species at each mix – 4 weeks old Very slow growth as expected for the season - no difference with control M1

0%

30%

70%

50%

100%

Results on the very high percentages of Fibagro Advance 10 weeks growth – trial was out of normal growing season Wallflowers

Pansies

0%

30%

50%

70%

100%

0%

30%

50%

Violas

• Mixes with 0% FA showed liverwort issues • Mixes with FA didn’t show liverwort 0%

30%

50%

70%

100%

70%

100%

All 3 species at each mix – 10 weeks old Very slow growth as expected for the season - no significant difference with control M1

30%

0%

70%

50%

100%

Results on the very high percentages of Fibagro Advance

15 weeks growth – early March Pansies

0%

30%

50%

Wallflowers

70%

0%

100%

30%

Violas • No liverwort in woodfibre mixes

0%

30%

50%

70%

100%

50%

70%

100%

Results on the very high percentages of Fibagro Advance 15 weeks growth – early March

30%

0%

70%

50%

100%

Results on the very high percentages of Fibagro Advance Roots at 15 weeks growth – early March

Violas

Violas

0%

30%

50%

70%

100%

0%

30%

30%

50%

70%

100%

50%

70%

100%

0%

30%

50%

0%

30%

50%

70%

70%

100%

Pansies

Pansies

Wallflowers

0%

Wallflowers

100%

0%

30%

50%

70%

100%

Results on the very high percentages of Fibagro Advance Roots at 15 weeks growth – early March

0%

30%

70%

50%

100%

Fibagro Advance – Summary

• • • • • •

Fibagro Advance has shown great potential up to 100% Manufactured by local certified wood products Reduced nutrient leaching and less slumping effect Less liverwort growth in FA mixes Very successful peat alternative material With right crop management techniques can be used in very high percentages

Fibagro Advance

Fibagro Advance

Thank You Woodfibre – The Future of Growing Media