Abstract

Peat is the dominant constituent in horticultural growing media (GM). Growing media are commonly evaluated with respect to their physical and chemical properties whereas few biological properties usually are claimed (absence of pathogens and weed seeds). This bio-exclusive perspective is inherited from the late 60ies/early 70ies when technical aspects dominated intensive horticultural crop production. The prospect of the 1990ies and early 2000 opened up for the active use of biological properties in horticultural growing media (GM), namely GENIII-growing media. Introduction of, or the active use of biological functions in growing media, requires tools for a more thorough biological characterization of GM, both with respect to composition of the microbiota and microbial processes. Of particular interest are processes of the indigenous microbiota, performance of introduced organisms or microbially mediated processes as well as plant health aspects. These are presented in this literature survey

Keywords

extrinsic factors; GenIII-growing medium; growing medium; microbial community structure; plant disease suppressiveness

Published in

Book title: Peat in horticulture : life in growing media : proceedings of the International Peat Symposium, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 11 October 2010
ISBN: 9789080971134
Publisher: International Peat Society

Conference

International Peat Symposium “Peat in Horticulture-Life in Growing Media”

Authors' information