• Müller, Raphael
• Glatzel, Stephan

Abstract

Provisioning of raw material is an important ecosystem service provided by restored and rewetted peatlands. Using materials produced on re-established peatland sites can help to increase the interest of stakeholders to expedite further restoration measurements. Therefore, the cultivation and extraction of peat moss, the so-called Sphagnum farming, offers a promising way of paludiculture. In this study physicochemical properties of harvested androcessed Sphagnum palustre were evaluated to identify possible uses in horticultural substrates. Effects of processing steps on the maximum water holding capacity (MWC) of Sphagnum palustre were evaluated, followed by a comparison of specific mixtures including peat and coir in different volumetric<br/>ratios. The wettability of the materials was analysed using standardised hydration experiments.Mixtures were fertilised and incubated for four weeks. Measurements using bomb calorimetry, thermogravimetry and elemental analysis of H, C, N, S and O were carried out for treated and untreated substrates. Results show that different processing steps reduce the MWC of processed Sphagnum biomass significantly compared to fresh moss, except for one treatment. All mixtures that include processed Sphagnum biomass have higher MWC than mixtures without it and rewetting of mixtures including Sphagnum is faster and more efficient. Fertilisation of processed<br/>Sphagnum decreased the stability of organic matter leading to a loss of total carbon, a shift of thermogravimetric peaks towards lower temperatures and a reduction of gross heat values. Processed Sphagnum biomass shows advantageous physical properties that enhance water holding and rewetting characteristics of mixtures while the stability of Sphagnum palustre decreases<br/>rapidly after fertilisation.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• Carbon
• experiment
• extraction
• thermogravimetry
• elemental analysis
• calorimetry