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Surface peat structure and chemistry in a tropical peat swamp forest

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Abstract

Background and Aims

Tropical peat swamp forests (PSF) are great stores of terrestrial carbon and host unique biodiversity. Despite their importance for carbon accounting, the peat characteristics are sparsely studied, and the effect of microtopography on peat properties has not been reported before.

Methods

We compared PSF peat soil characteristics down to 70 cm under differing microtopographical conditions and hydrology.

Results

Long-term water table level data combined with the data from peat structure and chemistry analyses showed differences in most of the measured properties between hummocks and hollows. Decomposition degree was lowest at hummock and hollow surfaces while bulk density and C content increased towards deeper peat. Ash, P, K, Ca and Mg had highest concentrations on hummock surfaces with declining trend downwards, whereas N had no clear concentration pattern along the elevation gradient.

Conclusions

The microtopographical features may not only differ in regards to the water table-induced oxygen conditions but also due to differences in nutrient dynamics.

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Abbreviations

PSF:

Peat swamp forest

C/N ratio:

Carbon nitrogen ratio

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Hidenori Takahashi for kindly providing us the water level data. We would also like to thank Iida Kämäri, CIMTROP staff and our funding body the Academy of Finland by KEYTROP and RETROPEAT (no. 253933) projects. Three reviewers and the subject editor are acknowledged for their thorough and constructive remarks on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Latokartanonkaari 7, Helsinki, 00014, Finland

    Maija Lampela, Jyrki Jauhiainen & Harri Vasander

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  1. Maija Lampela
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  2. Jyrki Jauhiainen
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Correspondence to Maija Lampela.

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Responsible Editor: Tim Moore.

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Lampela, M., Jauhiainen, J. & Vasander, H. Surface peat structure and chemistry in a tropical peat swamp forest. Plant Soil 382, 329–347 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2187-5

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