Peat

Partially decomposed organic material that was previously been used within a mineral top-dressing material to aid moisture and nutrient retention. With the exploitation of peatlands over the years their viability has become threatened and it is increasingly unacceptable to use peat within any mixture for the maintenance of sports and amenity turf surfaces.

The minimum percentage of organic matter within a soil organic layer for it to be classified as peat varies according to different authorities, but is typically either 20% or 30% as a minimum.