A 15cm flower pot containing three different composts To the left is leaf mould. To the top (rust hue) is a commercial peat-based compost. To the bott
A 15cm flower pot containing three different composts To the left is leaf mould. To the top (rust hue) is a commercial peat-based compost. To the bottom right is a commercial loam based compost. The leaf mould contains mostly organic materials, including small animals, bacteria and fungi. It is poor in plant nutrients and not a good growing medium on its own. The peat-based compost is high in organic material (humus), but has a low mineral content and requires artificial fertilisers to sustain good plant growth. The loam based compost is a mixture of mineral and organic material from loam with added fertilisers. It lacks the coarser mineral particles that are characteristic of a natural soil. Commercial products are subjected to a process of sterilisation. This destroys weed seeds and pathogenic micro-organisms, but also removes beneficial micro-organisms.
Size: 5212px × 3468px
Photo credit: © DR JEREMY BURGESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: animals, biological, biology, botanical, botany, compost, humus, leaf, loam, loam-based, micro-organisms, mould, peat, peat-based, soil
