Erwin Weening from DCM explains how potting substrate works and how DCM made it sustainable, long term and peat free.

1. Substrate & organic liquid fertiliser
ERWIN
WEENING

2. WHAT DO WE NEED FROM A SUBSTRATE FOR HEALTY GROWTH?
• Enough water
• Enough air
• Enough mineral components
• Enough organic matter
• Fertiliser

3. WHY?
O2 CO2

4. WHY?

5. WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE SUBSTRATE?
• Less and less
• and less

6. COMPOSTING
Cellulose
Hemi-cellulose
Lignine

7. RETRACTION
EFFECT OF PEAT MOSS

8. PEAT MOSS IS THE MAIN COMPONENT OF SUBSTRATES IN EU
Source: EPAGMA 2009
% of peat used in substrate compositions per country
% of peat used in substrate compositions in Europe
Fractions of peat moss

9. Peat moss comes from peat bogs :
A peat bog is an
accumulation of
fossilised moss in acid
and very humid
conditions
Moss Sphagnum imbricatum
Peat Bog drainage and harvest:
Source: Lee Klinger
PEAT MOSS IS THE MAIN COMPONENT OF SUBSTRATES IN EU

10. Different types of peat moss are used for horticulture:
Slightly decomposed blond peat
Highly decomposed black peat
Different origins of Peat moss are used for
horticulture in Europe:
• Ireland
• Baltic countries
• Germany
• Sweden
PEAT MOSS IS THE MAIN COMPONENT OF SUBSTRATES IN EU

11. Characteristics Blonde Peat Black Peat
pH 3,8 to 4,5 3,5 to 4,5
Cation exchange capacities 144 meq/l 166 meq/l
Air retention at pF1 in % of volume 27% 17%
Water retention at pF1 in % of volume 68% 75%
Available water reserve between pF1 and
pF1,7 in % of volume
30% 25%
Density in kg / m3 150 to 250 390 to 600
Peat moss is an excellent growing media with many agronomic qualities:
ADVANTAGES OF PEAT MOSS

12. One of the main drawbacks of peat moss is the ability to become hydrophobic when desiccation becomes too
important (when water content goes below 50%):
Measurement of hydrophobicity through contact angle measurements:
INCONVENIENCE OF PEAT MOSS

13. Peat moss desiccation and hydrophobicity will provoke retraction in pots:
Retraction is more important for:
• Black peat comparing to blond peat
• Fine peat comparing to coarser peat
Increase of retraction risk
Increase of retraction risk
During desiccation, peat moss will
loose a big part of its water retention
properties.
INCONVENIENCE OF PEAT MOSS

14. Several solutions exist:
1. Adding a wetting agent to the substrate
2. Incorporating other raw materials allowing better rewetting
SOLUTIONS TO AVOID PEAT MOSS DESICCATION AND COMPOSING

15. Wetting agent is a surfactant:
Wetting agent
Peat substrate Aspertion Drip irrigation
With wetting agent
Without wetting agent
All wetting agent are made of
chemical compounds:
ex: 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one
It is forbidden for organic
production and only authorized
for ornamental plants
SOLUTIONS TO AVOID PEAT MOSS DESICCATION

16. Composted Pine bark:
• Organic, sawmill by-product
• Resistant to biodegradation (high % of lignin)
• Rich of beneficial micro-organisms
Pozzolan
• Mineral, extracted from natural field
• Completely resistant to biodegradation
• Quite heavy (density = 1100 kg/m3)
Perlite
• Mineral, made from an industrial heat treatment
• Completely resistant do biodegradation
• Lightweight (density = 110 kg/m3)
All raw materials
presented are
authorized for organic
production
SOLUTIONS TO AVOID PEAT MOSS DESICCATION OR COMPOSING
Incorporating other raw materials into the mix:
Materials allowing better water infiltration and aeration of substrate

17. Materials allowing better water infiltration and water distribution
Wood fibre
• Organic, made from an industrial heat treatment
• Sensible to biodegradation (low % of lignin)
• Good capillarity allowing good water distribution into the substrate
Coco fibre
• Organic, coconut industry by-product
• Resistant to biodegradation (high % of lignin)
• Good capillarity allowing good water distribution into the substrate
Coco fibre is one of the best choice for substrate to enhance wettability and water distribution
All raw materials
presented are
authorized for organic
production
SOLUTIONS TO AVOID PEAT MOSS DESICCATION OR COMPOSING
Incorporating other raw materials into the mix:

18. DCM VISCOTEC® BLUE

19. DCM VISCOTEC® BLUE
• FERTILISER - SUSPENSION OF COMPOUND FERTILISER NK WITH BIOSTIMULANT
BASED ON AMINO ACIDS OF PLANT ORIGIN
•
9 % TOTAL NITROGEN (N) of which
9 % organically-bound nitrogen
(from amino acids of plant origin)
5 % POTASSIUM OXIDE (K2O) soluble in
water
• 45 % TOTAL AMINO ACIDS
•
• Product suitable for use in organic agriculture according to Regulations EC no.
834/2007 and no. 889/2008.
• Certified by Control Union Certificiation, Dutch Input List (SKAL), FIBL (Germany).

20. DCM VISCOTEC® BLUE
Innovative organic fertiliser
High content of nitrogen (N) 9 % of vegetable origin (no ingredients of animal origin)
Combined with 5 % potassium (K2O)
Quick effect on growth as well as on colour of the plants
Low salt index : mild effect on roots,
Can be used continuously as well as periodically for adjustments during crop growth
High purity
Permanently stable composition
Almost odourless

21. Conventional DCM VISCOTEC® BLUE
Aloë - 25 May 2018 (15 weeks after potting)
DCM VISCOTEC® BLUE :
more volume and better rooting

22. DCM VISCOTEC® BLUE :
more volume and better rooting
Extra DCM VISCOTEC® BLUEPotting soil with base fertilisation
Cyperus - 2 May 2018 (after 7 weeks)

23. • Innovative organic fertiliser
• High content of nitrogen (N) 9 % of vegetable origin (no ingredients of animal origin)
• Combined with 5 % potassium (K2O)
• Quick effect on growth as well as on colour of the plants
• Low salt index : mild effect on roots,
• Can be used continuously as well as periodically for adjustments during crop growth
• High purity
• Permanently stable composition
• Almost odourless
DCM VISCOTEC® BLUE

24. Agronomical constraints
Choice of good raw materials to
assure:
- Good wettability
- Good water retention and
distribution
- Good Aeration
- Less composting
- Good pH and conductivity
- Good fertiliser
Technical constraints of the
client
- Pot size
- Irrigation system
- Fertilisation system
- Type of plant
-Duration of cultivation
-Certification (ex: Organic
production)
Best
Substrate
CONCLUSION

25. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION