Growing media manufacture

´Peat is an accumulation of partially decomposed organic matter in the ____________ for a long period.

Peat production

1)____

2)Bog opening and field preparation

3)Plate classification

4)Harvesting

5)Blending and conditioning

6)Packaging

7)Storage

PEAT PRODUCTION

´Site selection is the key to producing high-quality sphagnum peat moss

´Experts are sent to prospective harvest sites to assess the quality of the bod and the peat.

´The entire site is characterized to evaluate the overall potential of the site:

• Surface area

• Degree of decomposition

• Density

• Depth

• Moisture

´Preparing the new harvesting site

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§Wait for the surface dry

§Harrow lightly to speed up the drying

• §Construct an access road

• §Remove trees and shrubs

• §Plan the layout and the fields

• §Create ditches to allow drainage

• §Harrow roughly to remove large roots and sticks

´Harvesting

§Peat harvesters vacuum a very thin layer of dry surface peat

• §Harvested peat is piled at the end of the fields

• §Piles are covered with a specially design tarp to preserve the characteristic of the peat as well as protect it from rainfall and contaminant

• §The temperature of each pile is monitored daily.  

• §The loaders transfer to the peat into bulk truck which transport the peat to packaging factory

• §Harrow lightly to speed up the drying

´Entering the factory: roots and particle

´The various peat grades are dropped into the appropriate hopper based on its classification

´The different peat grades are blended according to the desired characteristics and conveyed to the star screening system

´This screening system removes roots (stick) and separates peat fractions according to the particle size.

´The particle size is tested in each fraction to ensure its conformity

The statements refer to

´How to manage consistent products with many harvesting site?

´Uniformity is maximized by blending peat

§Before initial packing

oPeat from plates within the same site are blended

§During initial packing

oDifferent peat grades from the same site or from nearby sites are blended

§During growing media production

oPeat from different site are further blended

Statements refer to

´Packaging different formats for different needs

´Several ____ ____ are available for each peat fraction

´____ is the name given to the fibrous material that constitutes the thick mesocarp (middle layer) of the coconut fruit (Cocos nucifera).

COIR PRODUCTION

1)______ ____ _____

2)Decorticator & Disintegrator

§For stripping the skin & to break the coconut husk to reduce the strength in it

3)Washing Husk

§Crushed husks are typically washed in fresh water to reduce the E.C. level