Five new proven peat-free mixes launched at Four Oaks

Earlier this month, at the Four Oaks Trade Show, we were delighted to launch five new customised Levington Advance Sustain peat-free mixes – for propagation, bedding, liners, CNS and strawberry production – plus a peat-reduced mix for container-grown Christmas trees.

“These future-proofed sustainable base mixes, based on Fibagro Advance, are designed to be more cost effective and less reliant on coir and bark – which are in limited supply,” says Andrew Wilson, ICL Technical Manager. “Manufactured from FSC-certified by-products from the UK timber industry, Fibagro Advance is a sustainable input within a circular economy.  

“Woodfibre is the future for sustainable growing media. While barks tend to be variable, Fibagro Advance is an engineered product. Using a thermo-mechanical processing, ICL is producing four fractions – two new grades, Superfine (0-3mm) and Fine (0-10mm), together with Standard (0-15mm) and Coarse (0-18mm).

Just as with peat in the past, with our in-depth knowledge of the different air/water ratios we can blend different Fibagro Advance grades to create the optimum physical properties to suit different crop/cropping systems. The result is these highly consistent, high-performance peat-free Levington Advance Sustain base mixes.”

Five new proven peat-free mixes

Levington Advance Sustain Propagation Mix contains Fibagro Advance Super Fine, blended with bark and coir, and gives great flowability through seeding/potting lines,

Levington Advance Sustain Bedding Mix contains Fibagro Advance Fine and Standard plus coir and bark and works particularly well in smaller cells, improving the air-water balance and hence water holding.

Levington Advance Sustain Liner Mix contains two Fibagro Advance grades to improve water/air properties, promote rooting and simplify water management.

Levington Advance Sustain CNS Mix, contains Fibagro Advance Fine and Coarse plus coir and bark, and offers improved water holding, rooting and flowability.

Levington Advance Sustain Strawberry Mix is coir-free and based on Fibagro Advance woodfibre from FSC®-accredited UK sources. ICL is now carrying out large scale trialling in vertical farming systems.

In addition, the new Levington Advance peat-reduced Christmas Tree Mix is ideally suited to container production in 7.5-10litre pots.

All six sustainable mixes contain enhanced levels of H2Gro to improve water management; Micromax Premium for long lasting supply of trace elements; and ICL’s base fertiliser plus Osmoform High N – to get crops off to the best start.

“These new base mixes can be tailored to growers’ operations, with the option to premix additives such as Osmocote controlled release fertiliser; Lalguard M52 GR bioinsecticide for black vine weevil control’ Prestop biofungicide providing protection from root and base rot diseases; and Vitalnova TriBoost biostimulant to improve plant vitality,” says Andrew.

In addition, at Four Oaks ICL launched its first peat-reduced blocking substrate – Levington Advance Blocking FT – to help propagators, growers and supermarkets meet rising sustainability demands and comply with peat-reduction targets.