The Use of Wood Fiber for Reducing Risks of Hydrophobicity in Peat-Based Substrates
Peat substrates are well known to become hydrophobic during desiccation, thus degrading their water retention properties. Synthetic wetting agents are commonly incorporated to limit the risk of hydrophobicity, but substrates companies are searching for more sustainable alternatives. To that end, the...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/5/907 |
| _version_ | 1797535177636839424 |
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| author | Stan Durand Brian E. Jackson William C. Fonteno Jean-Charles Michel |
| author_facet | Stan Durand Brian E. Jackson William C. Fonteno Jean-Charles Michel |
| author_sort | Stan Durand |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Peat substrates are well known to become hydrophobic during desiccation, thus degrading their water retention properties. Synthetic wetting agents are commonly incorporated to limit the risk of hydrophobicity, but substrates companies are searching for more sustainable alternatives. To that end, the effect of wood fiber addition in peat-based mixes was measured using contact angles and hydration curves. The study was carried out on two raw materials (white milled peat and wood fiber) and binary mixes. The results showed a shift from hydrophilic to more hydrophobic character with a decrease in the ability to rewet of peat-based substrates in relation to the intensity of drying, whereas wood fiber remained hydrophilic. Increasing wood fiber content in peat-based mixes improved the rehydration efficiency, but with a lower intensity of that measured with synthetic wetting agent addition. Our results highlighted the hydrophilic nature of wood fiber and demonstrated an additional benefit of wood fiber use in peat-based growing media. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:41:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-db75bf8bb87f421d8541c619e713a3a1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:41:49Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-db75bf8bb87f421d8541c619e713a3a12023-11-21T18:28:32ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-05-0111590710.3390/agronomy11050907The Use of Wood Fiber for Reducing Risks of Hydrophobicity in Peat-Based SubstratesStan Durand0Brian E. Jackson1William C. Fonteno2Jean-Charles Michel3EPHor, L’Institut Agro, 49045 Angers, FranceDepartment of Horticultural Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USADepartment of Horticultural Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USAEPHor, L’Institut Agro, 49045 Angers, FrancePeat substrates are well known to become hydrophobic during desiccation, thus degrading their water retention properties. Synthetic wetting agents are commonly incorporated to limit the risk of hydrophobicity, but substrates companies are searching for more sustainable alternatives. To that end, the effect of wood fiber addition in peat-based mixes was measured using contact angles and hydration curves. The study was carried out on two raw materials (white milled peat and wood fiber) and binary mixes. The results showed a shift from hydrophilic to more hydrophobic character with a decrease in the ability to rewet of peat-based substrates in relation to the intensity of drying, whereas wood fiber remained hydrophilic. Increasing wood fiber content in peat-based mixes improved the rehydration efficiency, but with a lower intensity of that measured with synthetic wetting agent addition. Our results highlighted the hydrophilic nature of wood fiber and demonstrated an additional benefit of wood fiber use in peat-based growing media.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/5/907peatwood fiberrewettingwettabilitywater retentionphysical properties |
| spellingShingle | Stan Durand Brian E. Jackson William C. Fonteno Jean-Charles Michel The Use of Wood Fiber for Reducing Risks of Hydrophobicity in Peat-Based Substrates Agronomy peat wood fiber rewetting wettability water retention physical properties |
| title | The Use of Wood Fiber for Reducing Risks of Hydrophobicity in Peat-Based Substrates |
| title_full | The Use of Wood Fiber for Reducing Risks of Hydrophobicity in Peat-Based Substrates |
| title_fullStr | The Use of Wood Fiber for Reducing Risks of Hydrophobicity in Peat-Based Substrates |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Use of Wood Fiber for Reducing Risks of Hydrophobicity in Peat-Based Substrates |
| title_short | The Use of Wood Fiber for Reducing Risks of Hydrophobicity in Peat-Based Substrates |
| title_sort | use of wood fiber for reducing risks of hydrophobicity in peat based substrates |
| topic | peat wood fiber rewetting wettability water retention physical properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/5/907 |
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