Compost differences

Last year I bought some expensive compost that had been recommended by the likes of Charles Dowding, but which (last year at least) turned out to be less than ideal quality - Charles said as much on a recent video, and said he had been in touch with the manufacturers about the drop in quality. This was Moorland Gold, which is made from reclaimed peat fragments taken from reservoirs - it was a lovely fine texture that seemed ideal for propagation, and who could resist environmentally friendly peat? 

However everything I sowed in it last summer failed, and just to prove a point, when I tried it again this year (because I'd run low on seed compost) the results were less than impressive:

   

   

These are different seeds from different suppliers (beetroot, calendula - some home-saved - and alyssum), but only about half of all the modules had any germination

Contrast this with the broad beans I sowed in Dalefoot Seed Compost:

   

Around 90-95% germination rate. I rest my case!