Peat is a natural organic material of botanical origin. Peatlands are situated predominately in shallow wetland areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Commercial deposits are formed from the gradual decomposition of plant matter under anaerobic conditions for about 5,000-years. In 2004, peat was harvested in 16 states. Florida, Michigan and Minnesota accounted for more than 80 percent of the U.S. production. Reed-sedge was the dominant variety of peat harvested in the United States, comprising almost 80 percent of the output. This was followed by humus, hypnum moss and sphagnum moss. More than 56 percent of all peat used in the United States was imported from Canada, which has extensive deposits of high-quality sphagnum peat. Deposits of sphagnum peat in the United States occur in the northern states. Operations took place in Alaska, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Pennsylvania and Washington. Because of its more fibrous composition, sphagnum peat is preferred for custom soil mixes and for sale to retail consumers. Sphagnum peat also is used as a filtration medium and as an absorbent. More decomposed peats, such as reed-sedge or humus, are used primarily in bulk by commercial landscapers and on golf courses.
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