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Showing posts from November, 2014

Coco peat as a growing medium for germination of seeds

Coco peat or coir pith is an agriculture waste byproduct from a coir industry, used as a soil additive. It contains macro and micronutrients, natural enzymes, and helps to improve soil aeration, improve soil structure. Coco peat is mainly used as a lightweight growing medium for the germination of seeds. Processed coco peat used as a compost for growing plants. It absorbs water up to eight times its weight.           About 180 grams of coir pith is obtained from the husk of one coconut. Coir pith contains C: N in the ratio of 112:1 and it also contains lignin (75%) which does not permit natural composting as in other agricultural wastes. Mushroom pleurotus has the capacity to degrade the lignin present in the coir pith by producing enzymes like cellulases and lactases. The C: N ratio is reduced to 24:1 from 112:1 at the end of composting. Coco peat for germination of seeds Composting method: Follow this simple composting method for large-scale production of cocopeat composti