Dynamics of Litterfall and Decomposition in Peatland Forests: Towards Reliable Carbon Balance Estimation?

  • Raija Laiho
  • Kari Minkkinen
  • Jani Anttila
  • Petra Vávřová
  • Timo Penttilä
Chapter

The vast carbon (C) stores in peat soils may be seriously affected by different land-uses, or changes in the prevailing climatic patterns. Land use in peatlands usually includes artificial drainage. Any land-use mediated changes in C emissions from peatlands need to be estimated for greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting. This is not an easy task, since all factors that affect the dynamics of litter inputs and decomposition of organic matter are affected, and the changes may be different in different peatland types, or under different climates. This chapter describes an approach for estimating the C balance of peatland forests on site level that combines measured and modelled information on litterfall and decomposition. Further, we outline the most critical data needs. According to our estimates, the soils of boreal peatland forests may act as either net sinks or net sources of C depending on the ratio of litter inputs to decomposition outputs. The dynamics of below-ground litters, especially, and moss litters are most poorly known.

Keywords

Carbon balance decomposition litter peatland forests 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science + Business Media B.V 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  • Raija Laiho
    • 1
  • Kari Minkkinen
    • 1
  • Jani Anttila
    • 1
  • Petra Vávřová
    • 1
  • Timo Penttilä
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of Forest EcologyUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
  2. 2.Vantaa Research UnitFinnish Forest Research InstituteFinland

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