An important sustainable raw material in potting soil, with which a more open structure is achieved
Wood fibre is produced from wood chips, originating form unprocessed trunk wood. During the production, wood chips are converted in wood fibre under high mechanical pressure at a high temperature. For the production of wood fibre there are two accepted production processes. The type of process determines which quality – especially - arises. In a process fibres are more or less soaked from each other by steam under high pressure and temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius. Thus a fine wood fibre comes into existence. In the other process the wood is more or less mangled and pressed through a small hole. Because of the high mechanical pressure that is built up at this, a temperature around 100 degrees Celsius is developed. The result is a material of splinters and a little coarser material. This high temperature is also important to acquire a wood fibre free of plant diseases.
Local production.
Wood fibre is often applied as raw material in potting soil. On the one hand it is seen as a sustainable raw material, on the other hand it is also a raw material with specific properties. With wood fibre mainly a more open structure is achieved. For use in potting soil, often an extra nitrogen fertilisation is added during the production or composition, to avoid undesired nitrogen immobilization during the culture.
RHP requires that the quality of the wood chips has been recorded, among others, the wood species. Waste wood is not allowed at that because of contamination with undesired substances and plant diseases. RHP examines if production installations have a sufficient hygienisation effect.
