Peat-reduced and peat-free substrates for the organic herb farm (TerÖko) (2020 -2025)

With its chemical and physical properties, peat mined in bogs is an essential component of soils for pot herb cultivation. To protect the environment and climate, its use must now be reduced to a minimum. For this purpose, compost can be used, but its properties are much more variable than those of peat. Therefore, composting and cultivation strategies for peat-reduced/peat-free substrates are being tested and optimized in the following work packages for practical use and for the industry supplying substrates:

• Adaptation of cultivation strategies to peat-reduced/peat-free substrates (irrigation, nutrient management, plant protection) and their economic evaluation.
• Identification of physical, chemical, biological conditions on selected substrates
• Development/testing/optimization of the production process of phytosanitary effective premium composts
• Cultivation trials of a substrate mixture with high proportions of the developed phytosanitary effective composts together with the compost industry.

The knowledge transfer to all stakeholders takes place through communication of the results with networking of the practical farms, cultivation associations and substrate companies in workshops.