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 composting,
Step 1: Select a shaded place of 5*3 m dimensions and level it after removing weeds.
Step 2: Spread 100kg of coir pith uniformly.
Step 3: Spread 300g of pleurotus spawn on this and cover with the second layer of 100kg of coir pith. On the surface second layer, spread 1kg of urea uniformly.
Step 4: Repeat this sandwiching of one layer of coir pith with spawn followed by another layer of coir pith with urea up to one-meter height.
Step 5: Sprinkle water to keep the heap moist. Allow the heap to decompose for one month.


Manure conversion:
 The coir pith is converted into good organic manure after 30-40 days and the lignin content is reduced and nitrogen ratio is increased from 0.20% to 1.06%. Coir pith contains essential macro and micronutrients. It can be applied to a wide variety of crops and used to prepare the potting mixture and can be applied as an organic manure for a kitchen garden.

Properties of Coco peat compost:

1. Excellent air porosity:

               Coco compost maintains excellent air porosity and gives better crops with faster developing roots and more flowers and fruits per plants when used correctly.
2.Excellent water retention:
                It absorbs moisture more readily and plants recover more quickly. Improve water holding capacity.
3.Irrigation efficiency:
                Coco compost absorbs moisture even from a dry state, therefore the plants need to be irrigated less frequently for shorter periods. This leads to reducing leaching losses of fertilizer and lower water charges.
4.Faster germination time and quicker seedling rotations:

               The inherent qualities of coco peat and optimum water/air availability are ideal for quick rooting and propagation.

5.Suitable for soil remediation:

               Used as a mulch for soil remediation by increasing the nutrient status and thereby increasing the fertility of the barren land.

6.Environmentally safe:

               It increases the fertility of the barren land, it does not involve the destruction of natural wetland habitat. It's a renewable resource with no hazardous disposal problems.

                                 "Cocopeat nature gift for growing healthy plants".