Peat Moss Uses

Peat moss is the partially decaying or decomposing matter of sphagnum moss, that can be mostly found in peat bogs. Sphagnum is actually a genus, which includes about 150 to 350 species of mosses. It is basically known for its amazing absorbent quality, which makes it an excellent product for soil amendment. Anyone interested in gardening and landscaping knows the importance of peat moss for soil conditioning, soil amendment and ensuring healthy growth of plants. Its growing importance has led to its cultivation in bogs across the world.

Uses for Peat Moss

As has been mentioned already, gardening and landscaping are the most common uses of this moss, and no can beat it when it comes to conditioning and aerating the soil. However, not many people know that peat moss has some medicinal uses and it is used for electricity generation as well. It has also been used for a long time as a bedding material for livestock.

In Gardening and Landscaping
It is just like sponge, and it can retain a large amount of water. So, when added to soil, it increases the moisture level of the soil. Plants needs soil with the proper balance of air and water to grow. Plants cannot grow in hard and dry soil, as their root cannot develop properly in such types of soil. It can loosen hard soil by ensuring proper aeration. By retaining water for a long time, it helps to keep the dry soil moisturized. Another important benefit of adding it to garden soil is that it helps to retain nutrients in soil, due to its ability to absorb and retain moisture. This in turn, helps to improve the quality of the soil. It is considered as an excellent product for garden soil preparation and lawn care.

For Livestock Bedding
Using it as a bedding material for livestock is quite old. It has been in use for this purpose since the nineteenth century in Europe. What makes it ideal for livestock bedding is its amazing water retention ability. As it can absorb and hold a large amount of water, it helps to keep the livestock dry. Apart from these, sphagnum moss can reduce odor, which is another reason for using it in livestock bedding.

As a Packing Material
Its production generates a byproduct, which is termed as 'peat mold' or dust. This byproduct is used as a packing material for fruits and vegetables. It is basically used as a packing material while transporting fruits and vegetables.

In Electricity Generation
It was first used for the generation of electricity in1957. Presently, about 80% of the processed peat moss in Ireland is used for the production of electricity. In the Republic of Ireland, there are presently 6 energy stations where processed peat moss is crushed and then burned to generate electricity. These specific energy stations meet almost 10% of the total energy demand of Ireland. But, in the 1960s during the European petroleum crisis, they provided more than 40% of the total energy requirement of Ireland.

For Medical Purposes
It can be used for dressing wounds, due to its absorbent quality. It was used for this purpose by the Scottish soldiers in 1500s in the Battle of Flodden. Even during World War I, it was used for dressing wounds due to the shortage of cotton dressings. Due to its absorbent quality, peat was used in the ancient times for making diapers and sanitary towels. The juice extracted from peat moss is known to possess antiseptic properties, which can prove immensely beneficial for several skin conditions including, acne, scabies, psoriasis, insect bites and eczema. Apart from these, it can prevent the formation of bacterial cells, as well as the release of excretions by pathogens. This benefit can be attributed to the presence of a carbohydrate extract, known as sphagnan.

In addition to the uses mentioned above, it can be used for filtering sewage. It can be used in septic systems for the purification of waste water. To sum up, it is not only an excellent soil additive, but used for many other purposes as well.