Peat is the priceless wealth that nature has given to humanity. People in ancient times used peat as biofuel. In the modern world, it is used in many fields, such as medicine, biochemistry, agriculture, animal husbandry, etc. This article describes milled peat and its extraction technology.
What is milled peat?
Peat is formed as a result of decomposition of plants in conditions of limited air access. As a rule, it is formed in wetlands.
Milled peat is a dried crumb of various shapes and sizes, obtained by a milling method of extraction. The size of such peat ranges from 5 to 60 mm.
Milled peat contains plant fibers, which help maintain the required level of water-air balance. It also contains many nutrients and trace elements (humic acids, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, nitrogen), which help the active growth of plants.
Milling peat extraction technology
The milling method of peat extraction is a layer-by-layer development of peat deposits. The technological process takes place in short cycles and consists of the following stages:
- milling the upper layer of the array - in this case, it is required to obtain such raw materials, the drying of which would take place most intensively in specific weather conditions;
- tedding of the treated layer - provides loosening and airing of minerals, which is necessary to enhance the evaporation of excess moisture;
- swathing of dried raw materials - processed peat chips are twisted into rollers;
- harvesting of raw materials and delivery to stacks;
- stacking rollers - involves unloading peat harvesting machine in the form of bulk;
- peat isolation - this process is optional and is carried out only if necessary.
After cleaning the rollers at the place of extraction of the storage deposits, a new milling is started and the technological cycle is repeated again according to the described scheme. Depending on weather conditions and the quality characteristics of the reservoir layer, one to ten production season can take from 10 to 50 cycles.
Before milling, operating areas are required to be prepared. To do this, drain the massif, clean it from wood and grass vegetation.
The milling of peat chips differs from other methods in the intensive drying of deposits, low cost and labor, a short technological cycle and a high level of mechanization.
Types of milled peat
Depending on the depth, the upper and lowland peat are distinguished. According to this criterion, milled peat is classified. Each species is distinguished by composition, properties and quality characteristics. Let us dwell on each of them in more detail.
Horse milling peat
Peat raw materials of the upper type are formed from the remains of plants. It is mainly formed from conifers and moss. This type of peat is characterized by high moisture capacity, which helps to maintain the optimum amount of air and water in the soil. This is very important for plant growth. But due to the lack of useful mineral elements and low ash content, high-level milled peat is a weak fertilizer. In addition, it is characterized by a low degree of decomposition, which is no less important for plant nutrition with useful substances.
The color of milled peat may change with increasing percentage of decomposition from light yellow to brown.
Lowland peat
Peat lowland milling has a dark brown or black color. It is characterized by a high degree of decomposition and contains many useful substances. Also, lowland deposits are moistened by flood and groundwater, which are a source of calcium.
Lowland peat has a neutral or slightly acid alkaline reaction.
Well decomposed peat of the lower layers is dark in color and contains an important organic substance - humus. It has a positive effect in the long term on the structure of the soil, increasing its fertility.
Where is milled peat used?
Peat milling peat is an excellent base for greenhouse soil. Its characteristic ratio of air and moisture capacity helps to create favorable conditions in the root-forming layers of the soil in closed ground. For this reason, horse peat is used for growing strawberries, various seedlings, flowers. There are no seeds of weeds, pests and various pathogens, which greatly facilitates the use of peat in greenhouses and greenhouses. In addition, it is used in agriculture as bedding material in places where poultry and animals are kept. The fact is that such peat perfectly cleans the surrounding air and helps to prevent many dangerous diseases. Thus, peat is not only practical to use, but also very safe.
Peat of the top type also found its application in industry. So, it is often used as a filtering component in sewage treatment plants.
Widespread use is lowland peat. So, its introduction into the soil significantly improves such soil characteristics as density, porosity, moisture capacity, nutritional and microbiological composition. The use of this peat helps to reduce nitrates in crops by 2-3 times.
Most often, lowland peat is used to fertilize infertile soils in order to saturate them with useful substances. It also allows you to bind sandy loose ground and loosen dense clay soil. Due to its properties, lowland peat prevents the drying out of the soil and maintains a sufficient level of moisture, which increases the yield of cultivated plants. A good crop can be obtained from growing potatoes, various vegetables and berries in peat soil.
The lowland peat massif is an excellent basis for composting. To do this, mix straw, manure, household waste, potash and phosphorus fertilizers with peat crumbs.
Quite widely used peat milling for the production of briquettes. Peat lends itself well to this process and does not require binders. Such briquettes are used for heating residential and industrial premises.
The cost of milled peat
In modern production conditions, many industries purchase milled peat. The price of it depends on the physicochemical properties of the array and the complexity of the process. So, peat is much cheaper. Deposits located at great depths are considered very valuable and multifunctional. An important indicator on which depends how the peat lowland milling will be sold - the price. The use of peat for many purposes directly affects the increase in production. This stimulates the development of the peat industry and the economy as a whole.