Decomposition in northern Minnesota peatlands
Decomposition in peatlands was investigated in northern Minnesota. Four sites, an ombrotrophic raised bog, an ombrotrophic perched bog and two groundwater minerotrophic fens, were studied. Decomposition rates of peat and paper were estimated using mass-loss techniques. Environmental and substrate factors that were most likely to be responsible for limiting decomposition were monitored. Laboratory incubation experiments complemented the field work. Mass-loss over one year in one of the bogs, ranged from 11 percent in the upper 10 cm of hummocks to 1 percent at 60 to 100 cm depth in hollows. Regression analysis of the data for that bog predicted no mass-loss below 87 cm. Decomposition estimates on an area basis were 2720 and 6460 km/ha yr for the two bogs; 17,000 and 5900 kg/ha yr for the two fens. Environmental factors found to limit decomposition in these peatlands were reducing/anaerobic conditions below the water table and cool peat temperatures. Substrate factors found to limit decomposition were low pH, high content of resistant organics such as lignin, and shortages of available N and K. Greater groundwater influence was found to favor decomposition through raising the pH and perhaps by introducing limited amounts of dissolved oxygen.
- Research Organization:
- Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7016478
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
010600* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
ALKALI METALS
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
CARBOHYDRATES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL DEPOSITS
DECOMPOSITION
DEPTH
DIMENSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION V
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIGNIN
LOSSES
MASS BALANCE
MATHEMATICS
METALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINNESOTA
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MATTER
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEAT
PH VALUE
POLYSACCHARIDES
POTASSIUM
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RESOURCES
SACCHARIDES
STATISTICS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
USA
WATER
WEATHERING