How to Buffer Coco Peat
Buffering of coconut fiber is a chemical process consisting of replacing sodium and potassium with calcium, washing away excess waste.
Buffering Coco Peat
Buffering of coconut fiber is a chemical process consisting of replacing sodium and potassium with calcium, washing away excess waste.
The recommended buffering ratio is:
1,000 litres of water mixed with 7 kg of Calcium Nitrate will buffer 5 Cubic Meters of coco peat.
A very simple method is to use a bunker (wash bay) system to buffer the coco peat. It can be done in lots of 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 or 150 cubic meters at a time – depending on the size of your wash bay.
The first step is to hydrate or expand the coco peat completely. Once expanded, leave the coco peat until there is no more water runoff.
The next step is to mix Calcium Nitrate at a ratio of 7 Kilos per 1,000 litres of water.
The recommended buffering ratio is 200 litres of treated water (i.e. water mixed with Calcium Nitrate) per 1 Cubic Meter (or +/- 15 x 5kg blocks) of coco peat – alternatively: 1,000 litres of water mixed with 7 kg of Calcium Nitrate will buffer 5 Cubic Meters of coco peat. Ideally the treated water should be administered over a 24-hour period via a slow sprinkler system or irrigation system.
After the treated water with Calcium Nitrate has been applied, leave the hydrated coco peat heap for two days for the buffer to take full effect and for optimum results.
Once the resting period is over, rinse the coco peat once more – i.e. let the all the water runoff, fill the wash bay again with water and let it then run off once more.
You will now have buffered coco peat.
A totally soluble Calcium Nitrate is preferred. Field grade Calcium Nitrate can also be used if the mixture is adequately agitated to dissolve the particles.
If sprinklers are not available, one can simple soak the coco peat in the treated water – just ensure that the coco peat and water are well mixed.
Coco Coir
To get the Coco Coir from the Coconut husk it goes through many stages of grading processes – ageing, washing, sometimes steaming, buffering, drying, grinding and compressing into different sizes and grades of Coco Coir, namely Fine, Coarse and different size chips. This ensures that the chemical and physical characteristics of the coco are altered to ensure the best quality Coco Coir for growing plants in.
- Coco has an ideal ph.
- Coco holds 22% air even when fully saturated-hydrated.
- Coco has excellent drainage properties.
- Coco has anti-fungicidal properties which help plants to get rid of soil-borne diseases.
- Coco peat is 100% renewable.
- Coco peat is easy to hydrate.
- Coco peat is 100% Environmentally friendly.
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