Sdao Anna Elisa, Gruda Nazim S, De Lucia Barbara
Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy.
Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Horticultural Sciences, University of Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 6, 53121 Bonn, Germany.
Plants (Basel). 2025 Jun 25;14(13):1945. doi: 10.3390/plants14131945.
Environmental concerns drive the search for sustainable organic alternatives in horticultural substrates. This review critically examines three agro-industry renewable byproducts-wood fiber, coffee silverskin, and brewer's spent grain-as partial peat substitutes. We aimed to comprehensively analyze their origin, processing methods, current applications, and key physical, hydrological, and chemical properties relevant to horticultural use. In soilless culture, wood fiber can be used as a stand-alone substrate. When incorporated at 30-50% (/) in peat mixtures, it supports plant growth comparable to peat; however, higher proportions may restrict water and nutrient availability. Coffee silverskin demonstrates high water retention and nutrient content, but its inherent phytotoxicity requires pre-treatment (e.g., co-composting); at concentrations up to 20%, it shows promise for potted ornamental crops. Brewer's spent grain is nutrient-rich but demands careful management due to its rapid decomposition and potential salinity issues; inclusion rates around 10% have shown beneficial effects. In conclusion, when used appropriately in blends, these bio-based byproducts represent viable alternatives to reduce peat dependence in vegetable and ornamental cultivation, contributing to more sustainable horticultural practices. Future research should optimize pre-treatment methods for coffee silverskin and brewer's spent grain, investigate long-term stability in diverse cropping systems, and explore novel combinations with other organic waste streams to develop circular horticultural substrates.
环境问题促使人们在园艺基质中寻找可持续的有机替代品。本综述批判性地研究了三种农业工业可再生副产品——木纤维、咖啡银皮和啤酒糟——作为泥炭的部分替代品。我们旨在全面分析它们的来源、加工方法、当前应用以及与园艺用途相关的关键物理、水文和化学性质。在无土栽培中，木纤维可作为单一基质使用。当以30 - 50%（/）的比例掺入泥炭混合物中时，它对植物生长的支持作用与泥炭相当；然而，更高的比例可能会限制水分和养分的有效性。咖啡银皮具有高保水性和高养分含量，但其固有的植物毒性需要预处理（如共同堆肥）；在浓度高达20%时，它对盆栽观赏作物有应用前景。啤酒糟营养丰富，但由于其分解迅速和潜在的盐分问题，需要谨慎管理；掺入比例约为10%已显示出有益效果。总之，当在混合物中适当使用时，这些生物基副产品是减少蔬菜和观赏植物种植中对泥炭依赖的可行替代品，有助于实现更可持续的园艺实践。未来的研究应优化咖啡银皮和啤酒糟的预处理方法，研究在不同种植系统中的长期稳定性，并探索与其他有机废物流的新型组合，以开发循环园艺基质。
