Coir Benefits of Farming

Coco Coir is an increasingly popular medium for growing anything from vegetables to flowers. There is a good reason for this since coir offers many benefits due to its natural ability to retain moisture and the fact that it is environmentally safe. Farmers can use coir in place of peat moss or in addition to it to grow their product. Here are some of the benefits of coir for farming.

How Is Coir Used In Farming

Coir comes in several different forms that farmers can use. Coir pith is the substance extracted from the coconut husk. The pith goes through a composting process to reduce the bulkiness. This is also called coco peat and looks similar to peat moss. It can be used on its own or combined with peat moss to get the benefits of both. The coco fiber is also helpful in farming. It is very absorbent and helps to create air pockets which provide oxygen to the roots.

Coco Coir’s Neutral pH Level

Coco coir has a naturally neutral pH level. This is beneficial to many plants and vegetables which do not grow well in highly acidic environments. When farmers use peat in their farming beds, they also need to add agricultural lime to reduce the acid. Since it is already neutral or even slightly alkaline, one of the benefits of coir for farming is that it saves on the cost of adding lime and it saves on the cost of labor.

The Quality of the Soil

Coco coir does not contain a lot of nutrients on its own, so it doesn’t add to the nutrients of the soil. This is beneficial to many herbs that develop better flavor in a lower nutrient soil. Another benefit of coir for farming is that it helps to improve to the quality of the soil. Since it is naturally organic and breaks down over time, over the years it will add organic matter to the soil. It will become loose and friable which is preferred by most farmers and by most plants.

The Drainage

Coir helps to improve soil’s drainage while still retaining moisture. Since the coir breaks down, it creates air pockets in the ground that not only helps extra moisture to drain away from the roots. Since they don’t stay too moist, it also allows oxygen to get to the roots. The coir also holds onto moisture for a longer period than most other growing materials so the soil won’t completely dry out. This means that farmers need to use less water and they can water less frequently.

Coir Is Eco-Friendly

A significant benefit of using coir in farming is that it is sustainable. As a natural by-product of coconut harvesting, using it keeps it from going into landfills. Coconuts grow throughout the year and will continue to grow even after harvesting, which can occur every two months.

The benefits of coir for farming range from its sustainability to its pH levels. It is also able to retain water and help farmers cut down on labor and watering expenses.