Cocopeat

Coco peat also known as 'coir fiber pith"' or 'coir dust' is a natural, and renewable resource produced from coconut husks by the coconut industries in Sri Lanka, India & Indonesia. Malaysia cocopeat industry are at lower category due to only less than 10 processing factory are in operation located in Johor, Perak, selangor and Sabah. Malaysia grows 110,060 hectare of coconut mostly for fresh production and consumed as 'Young drinking coconut'. This article I would like to share some information about cocopeat from my observation on the production and the usage in agriculture sector especially on Fertigation Farming System.

Coco peat is the 'coir fiber pith' or 'coir dust' produced as a bi-product when coconut husks are processed for the extraction of the long fibers from the husk. Coco peat is the binding material that comes from the fiber fraction of the coconut husk. The coir dust is washed, heat treated, screened and graded before being processed into various Coco peat products for Horticultural and Agricultural applications. Coco peat was first introduced into English horticulture as a growing medium more than 135 years ago. The use of cocopeat in Malaysia concentrated in major vegetable area such as in Cameroon Highland, Kundasang for the Highland Vegetables and in Muar, Johor BAhru District in Johor for lowland production area.

Coco peat is a multi-purpose soil conditioner and growing medium. It is consistent and uniform in texture. It is a completely homogeneous material composed of millions of capillary micro-sponges, that absorb and hold up to eight times it's own weight in water. The natural pH of 5.7 to 6.5, plus an unusually high Caption Exchange Capacity - and 27% of Easily Available Water assures that coir will hold and release nutrients in solution over extended periods without rewatering. Less problem with the attack of pests and diseases for cocopeat in farming activities compare those farmers with traditional bare soil. There was less nematode attack, soil borne diseases and damage of crop due to salinity when cocopeat are use ad planting media.

Coco peat has long been used in the making of rugs, and weaving into landscape erosion control mats. Coir fiber is an excellent potting medium for starting seeds and potting plants. A by-product of the coconut harvest, coir fiber is a renewable resource. It holds 10 times its weight in water and does not shed water like peat moss. Coco Pith holds and releases nutrients over extended periods, providing excellent oxygenation. The blocks are convenient to store because of compression. To use, simply soak with five quarts of water per brick for 10 minutes or so. Each brick yields approximately 1/3 cubic feet of fluffy, organic potting medium.

You can break the contents up in any size pieces you want and use them in what ever quantity you need. Coco peat is the effective way to clean up oil and other liquid spills.
• Environmentally friendly material
• Will absorb up to 9 times its own weight.
• Cocosorb is 100% organic , easy to use and dispose of.
• Use to clean up fuel, oil, hydraulic fluid, coolants, solvents, grease, ink, paint and many other hazardous liquids.
• Available in bulk and retail packaging.

Coco peat many use as plant medias for the green house and organic plant. Because in character capable to storage water equal to 8-9x from dry weight hence this coco peat is very good for plant media / media growing. Because the ability of that hence, root of plant that using this coco peat media plant will be more fertile and the end result of fruit will nicer. Plants which in character need very good dampness adapt with this coco peat. This coco peat also have characteristic that can hold up to crop pest so that don’t need pesticide. Crop pest dislike with coco peat. Besides because energy of storage big water hence having an effect on also at usage of more economical manure.

Common uses of coco peat include:
• As a substitute for peat, because it is free of bacteria and most fungal spores, and is sustainably produced without the environmental damage caused by peat mining.
• Mixed with sand, compost and fertilizer to make good quality potting soil. Coco peat generally has an acidity in the range of pH - 5.5 to 6.5. It is a little on the acidic side for some plants, but many popular plants can tolerate this pH range.
• As substrate for growing mushrooms, which thrive on the cellulose. Coco peat has high cellulose and lignin content.
Coco peat can be re-used up to three times with little loss of yield. Coco peat from diseased plants should not be re-used.

The properties of Coco Peat make it resistant to bacterial and fungal growth. Coco Peat holds water rather than shedding it like traditional peat does! It holds 8-9 times it's weight in water. Coco Peat has the ability to store and release nutrient to plants for extended periods of time. It also has great oxygenation properties which is important for healthy root development. It has a pH of 5.2-6.8 which is neutral to slightly acidic. This makes it great for alkaline garden soils. Easy to use! Just put your compressed Coco Peat brick in a container, add 4 quarts of warm water and let it sit until the water is absorbed, fluff it up and you are ready to use Coco Peat! ... Coco Peat can even be reused for up to 4 years!
It makes a great bedding material for worm bins! It's actually good for them and increases worm growth by 25%.

Coco Peat is very slow to disintegrate; it only begins to break down when it is 10 years old, long term benefits. It is very light and easy to handle.
It can be combined with any of the normal ingredients and use as a mixer or a stand-alone product. An affordable price for a quality product with an environmentally sustainable future. I believe cocopeat has a potential demand in future in food farming activities in Malaysia.

Thanks.

By

M Anem

Putrajaya

Malaysia