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Assessment of an integrated peat-harvesting and reclamation method: peatland-atmosphere carbon fluxes and vegetation recovery

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Abstract

We document a two-year experimental trial of a recently-developed integrated peat-harvesting and reclamation technique at a poor fen in northern Ontario, Canada. We removed and conserved the uppermost ~0.3 m of peat in blocks while deeper peat was harvested from the resultant pit. We allowed the extraction pit to flood with shallow groundwater, and then reclaimed the conserved surficial peat blocks by transplanting them into the flooded pit where they formed a low, floating mat. In the 2nd year after harvest average Sphagnum cover in our experimental plot was intermediate (~25 %) between hummocks (~100 %) and hollows (~10 %) at an adjacent unharvested reference plot. Mean rates of Sphagnum productivity were greater in the experimental plot (65–86 g m−2 month−1) than in the reference plot (45–55 g m−2 month−1) for both hummock (S. fuscum) and lawn (S. magellanicum) species, although not significantly so, indicating that the transplant had no adverse effects on Sphagnum health. The inundated soil conditions in the trial pit prevented the large carbon dioxide emissions that are characteristic of many harvested peatlands. During the second growing season midday net ecosystem exchange at the experimental plot was similar to that at hollows in the reference plot. However, the anoxic soil conditions in the experimental plot led to highly elevated methane emissions in both years. Our results demonstrate that the method can enable rapid re-establishment of a healthy Sphagnum mat and carbon dioxide sequestration function in harvested peatlands, although the global warming potential of our experimental trial was high due to elevated methane emissions.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Adam Schaubel, Danielle Solondz, Natalie Spina, Merritt Turetsky and the late Wayne McLellan for field assistance. Brian Mol, Christina Mol and Susanne Walford provided valuable logistical support.

Funding

This research was funded by a grant to JMW from the Ontario Centres for Excellence and Atikokan Bio Energy Research Centre, and with support from Peat Resources Ltd.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada

    Lana P. Wilhelm, Gustaf Granath & James M. Waddington

  2. School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    Paul J. Morris

  3. Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden

    Gustaf Granath

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  1. Lana P. Wilhelm
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  2. Paul J. Morris
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  3. Gustaf Granath
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  4. James M. Waddington
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Correspondence to Paul J. Morris.

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Wilhelm, L.P., Morris, P.J., Granath, G. et al. Assessment of an integrated peat-harvesting and reclamation method: peatland-atmosphere carbon fluxes and vegetation recovery. Wetlands Ecol Manage 23, 491–504 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-014-9399-6

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