Olika naturliga kvävekällors inverkan på värmeutvecklingen i varmbänkar

Abstract

This thesis aims to, through temperature readings and evaluation of sowing, examine how materials containing more or less nitrogen generate heat in a hot bed. The method used to answer set questions has been carried out by gathering facts from literature, informants and digital resources, compiling this into a practical test with a hot bed containing six compartments with different materials. The materials being tested are fresh stable manure, garden waste, chicken manure, leaves, wool and old stable manure, where the hot bed with fresh manure is used as a reference. The temperature readings show that materials with a high level of nitrogen has a faster and higher heat generating capacity compared to materials with lower levels of nitrogen. It also show that these hot beds has a greater temperature loss when covered with soil. By the end of the test all hot beds, regardless previous temperature, has stabilized at 7-10 degrees Celsius. At this time germination has occurred in half of the examined hot beds; fresh manure, garden waste and wool. One week later, germination has occurred in all hot beds, with equivalent progress. This indicates that the alternative materials can be used instead of fresh stable manure to achieve a crop earlier than outdoor sowing. The temperature readings however show that neither of the hot beds work according to the gathered information. The temperature readings also show that the cooler hot beds to a large extent follow the outside temperature. The conclusion is by these parameters that the examined materials probably can be used as a component to fresh stable manure, but that the material per se, in the amount used in this test, are not potent enough to generate enough heat, had the outdoor climate been colder.