New Horticulture Curriculum on Growing Media and Soil Amendment Available

Abstract

Horticultural schools are always looking for fresh material for their classes. The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA) has developed a lesson plan entitled Growing Media and Soil Amendment that is ideal for horticultural or greenhouse management courses. The teaching plan includes terms and definitions on all types of peatmoss and commonly used terms related to the resource. It discusses characteristics and qualities of world peat resources as well as comparisons of physical, chemical, and biological properties of organic materials used in growth media and as soil amendments. In addition to the research information on peat and other soil amendments, the teaching plan addresses the environmental issues surrounding the use of wetlands, including peatlands and the effects of peat harvesting on the environment. The plan introduces students and instructors to the reclamation and restoration efforts that have been developed and used to preserve the harvested bogs in Canada. The curriculum is divided into two sections: one for the students, which includes handouts and one for the instructor, with more in-depth background information.