What is coconut coir dust

Adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution onto coconut coir dust (CCD) a low cost agricultural waste material in a batch process was investigated. Adsorption was studied as a function of amount of adsorbent, pH and concentration with time. It was found that percentage adsorption varied linearly with the amount of adsorbent and concentration with time but varies non-linearly with pH. Adsorption equilibrium data were represented by isotherm, kinetics and thermodynamics models. Three isotherm models namely Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin were tested and adsorption was found to fit well into these models with R 2 ⩾ 0.90. The kinetic data were well described by the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The adsorption process was endothermic with a mean change in enthalpy (ΔH) (+17.87 KJ mol −1 ) and spontaneous with a mean free energy change (ΔG) (−9.69 KJ mol −1 ). FTIR analyses of the adsorbent suggest that adsorption of the dye was through a chemical interaction of the functional groups on the surface of the adsorbent.

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Monday, February 14, 2022 | Troy Buechel

What is coco coir?

Coco coir is the term given to a range of natural products manufactured from coconut husks that are used in horticultural applications. Although sometimes referred to as ‘coco peat’, coir is not peat at all, and it is incorrect to call it by this name. Coir is the by-product of the coconut processing industry, in which coconut husks are processed to extract the fibres for various industries. Coconut husks go through a shredding process, by which the longer fibres are separated into a range of particle sizes, depending on the intended application. The left-over mixture of small fibres and dust is sold ‘as is’ and used for horticultural purposes.

Pictured is the fibre that is extracted from coconut husks, which is used for many industries.

Coir pith is used in the manufacturing of growing media.

Coconut trees grow naturally in brine water and highly saline environments; therefore, the coconut husks accumulate various salts. Before it can be used for horticultural crops, it should be washed with fresh water to leach salts built up in the coconut husks, or washed with a buffer solution of calcium nitrate to leach salts and include a nitrogen source. The process not only reduces the electrical conductivity (EC) of coir but also helps to lower its pH.

Types of Coir

From the coconut husks, coir pith (also known as coir dust) and coir chips (chunks) are primarily used for growing media, whereas coir fibre typically is not. Coir pith is generally combined with Sphagnum peat moss and aggregates to produce various growing media for seed germination to general purpose growing. Coir pith is used in PRO-MIX products, such as PRO-MIX MP MYCORRHIZAE Organik for organic transplant production.

Shown are the three most common products removed from the coir husk that are used for various industries, including coir pith and coir chips used for growing media.

Coir chips (chunks) provide unique properties when used in growing media, in that these chips hold water within the particle but also provide aeration, water movement and dimensional stability within the growing medium. PRO-MIX HPCC is made with coir chunks and these products are suitable for potted crops ranging from flowering, foliage, perennials and some nursery crops.

Features and Benefits of Coir

Coir’s effect on a soilless growing medium will vary depending on its source, how it was processed, and the percent of coir used in the formulation of the growing medium. The porous and granular structure of coir has similar physical properties to Sphagnum peat moss in that it has high total porosity, and even higher available water holding capacity compared to Sphagnum peat moss. Coir has been shown to hold up to nine times its weight in water. Growing medium that contains a base of coir fibre and Sphagnum peat moss can help in rooting and germination.

Some of the properties that make coir a suitable amendment for combining with Sphagnum peat moss for growing media include:

• Excellent wetting and re-wetting capability. Coir does not have a waxy cuticle to repel water like Sphagnum peat moss, so it does not require a wetting agent. In fact, long term crops may not require a maintenance application of wetting agent.
• Growing medium with coir does not shrink from the container walls upon drying, so water does not channel down the sides when dry growing medium is irrigated.
• Coir has a high lignin to cellulose ratio and is more resistant to physical breakdown when handled and processed through horticultural equipment for filling flats and pots. It also has less shrinkage in growing containers over the life of the crop which is important for long-term crops.
• Coir provides high air and water holding capacity within the container.
• It has a slightly acidic to neutral pH range, so it does not require limestone for pH adjustment. The pH of coir ranges from 6.0 to 6.8, as compared to Sphagnum peat moss, for which the pH ranges between 3.5 and 4.8.

Growing Practices to Adjust for Coir’s Effects on pH and EC

The addition of coir to a soilless growing medium may require some adjustment and monitoring of your crop production and cultural management practices. Depending on the percentage of coir in the growing medium, the following may need to be considered:

Water quality

Adjust watering practices

Nutritional balance

PRO-MIX HPCC BIOFUNGICIDE + MYCORRHIZAE

PRO-MIX HPCC, which is an acronym for High Porosity – Chunk Coir, is a peat-chunk coir based product that is ideal for larger potted crops (4 inch – 10 cm or larger), hanging baskets and outdoor containers where higher water holding capacity is desired without sacrificing high air porosity as is characteristic of our PRO-MIX HP. The secret is the chunk coir.

Chunk coir is a small coir nugget that retains water between its fibers and releases it back to the growing medium as the plant uses the water. Also larger chunks produce big pores that hold air and not water, increasing total air porosity.

INGREDIENTS:

• Canadian Sphagnum peat moss (65-75%)
• Chunk Coir – increases water holding capacity and air porosity, improves long-term wettability and reduces long term compaction.
• Perlite (horticultural grade) – improves air porosity
• Dolomitic and calcitic limestone – for initial pH adjustment (5.4-5.8)
• Starter fertilizer charge – provides feed for one week
• Wetting agent

The addition of coir to a soilless growing medium can be beneficial in many ways. But as with any change to a different growing medium, the grower needs to be aware of potential impacts and ways to mitigate those impacts to get the best results for crop production. For more information about peat-coir based growing media, contact Premier Tech Horticulture.

For more information about organic growing media, contact your Premier Tech Grower Services Representative:

Ed Bloodnick
Horticulture Director
US-South East

JoAnn Peery
Horticulture Specialist
US-Central, Canada-Central

Lance Lawson
Horticulture Specialist
US-West, Canada-West

Troy Buechel
Horticulture Specialist
US-North East

Susan Parent
Horticulture Specialist
Canada-East, US-New England

Jose Chen Lopez
Horticulture Specialist
Mexico, Latin & South America

PRO-MIX® is a registered trademark of PREMIER HORTICULTURE Ltd.

Related Articles

Coconut coir comes from the fibrous inner shell of the coconut. Previously thought of as a waste material, it is now frequently packaged and sold as a soil amendment to replace peat moss in the garden. Coir provides similar garden benefits compared to peat when used properly to improve the garden bed.

Soil pH

Unlike peat moss, which is highly acidic, coconut coir has a neutral pH level. Most garden vegetables and flowers grow best in neutral to slightly alkaline conditions. When you use peat to amend a garden bed, an addition of agricultural lime is often necessary to combat the higher acidity. With coconut coir, limestone isn’t necessary unless the soil naturally has a higher pH level. Coir use results in both a monetary and a labor savings, since you don’t need to purchase further pH amendments nor work them into the soil.

Drainage

Coir improves soil drainage in the bed while also helping to retain moisture in quick-draining soils. Since coir breaks down slowly, much like peat, it creates air pockets in the soil that allow excess moisture to drain away from plant roots. The coir itself holds onto some moisture so the drainage doesn’t occur too quickly and the soil doesn’t dry out completely. These dual drainage and retention properties allow coir to improve moisture management in both heavy clay soils and dry, sandy beds.

Soil Quality

Coconut coir contains few nutrients so it doesn’t add to the nutrient quality of the soil. Further fertilization or compost amendments are necessary for heavy-feeding plants such as vegetables and some flowers, but most herbs develop their best flavor in low-nutrient soils. Coir also works to improve the overall quality of the soil over time since it adds much needed organic matter to the bed. Annual coir amendments can result in a loose, friable soil over time, which is the preferred soil quality for most garden plants.

Sustainability

Peat moss, which coir replaces as a soil amendment, takes centuries to regrow once harvested. Coir is completely sustainable since it is a natural byproduct of coconut harvests, and coconut trees produce new coconuts every year. Using the coir in the garden keeps it out of the landfill where it would otherwise go. Coir can take a century or longer to fully break down in these landfills, so it’s more sustainable to use it to improve your garden soil.

• Fine Gardening: Getting to the Coir of the Matter
• University of Florida: Coir Dust, a Viable Alternative to Peat Moss

Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. Harrington’s specialties include small business information, crafting, decorating and gardening.

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