Each gardener growing seedlings is familiar with a unique substance – peat, which is used as a soil component. However, not everyone knows that there are several peat species – low and high moor peat. But what is their difference and how to apply them correctly? That's what we're going to talk about.
As a rule, high moor peat occurs in regions with harsh conditions and poor vegetation. In moors on a flat surface, with almost no underwater water, and nutrition comes from melting snow and rare precipitation, peat is formed upon decomposition of sphagnum, cotton grass, heather, pine, Labrador tea.
Low peat is found in low places, particularly in ravines, river banks, where it gets nutrition from groundwater. Peat is formed when the horsetail, woodreed, small reed, sedges, moss, and wood are decomposed. It also includes nutrients captured by groundwater.
The origin of peat also affects its chemical composition. High moor peat is acidic (pH 3-4), low moor peat, containing 70% organics, has slightly acidic or neutral reaction (pH 5.5-7). The latter has high salt content – 200-700 mg/l, while high moor peat has salt content up to 70-180 mg/l.
The difference also applies to the use of these types of peat. For example, high moor peat with acid reaction is used as a substrate for growing seedlings or vegetables in a greenhouse only. Low moor peat has somewhat wider scope of application: highly decomposed peat is used as fertilizer (compost), slightly decomposed peat is used as bedding for livestock.