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Question: What is the benefits of peat in horticulture as growing medium?

Answer: The following qualities are what makes peat moss a unique and sought-after product in horticulture and agriculture, whether as a principal component in growing media or as a soil amendment:

It improves soil structure, increases water retention in light sandy soils and helps to reduce the leaching of nutrients. Peat moss can retain up to 20 times its weight in water.
It aerates and improve drainage of heavy clay soils, allowing roots to breathe, grow and better absorb nutrients.
It improves soil buffering capacity because peat moss is highly tolerant to pH variations.
It improves the cation exchange capacity (CEC) that helps to retain minerals, releasing them over time and preventing the leaching of fertilizers.
It is a natural resource free of weeds and pollutants. Peat moss allows plants to grow in aerated and well-structured soil cheap designer frames, guaranteeing healthy, vigorous plants.

(Source: International Peatland Society, 02 Feb 2021)

Source Link: https://peatlands.org/peat/peat-for-horticulture/