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Effect of Peatland Siltation on Total and Labile C, N, P and K

Author

Listed:
  • Slawomir Smolczynski

    (Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-245 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Barbara Kalisz

    (Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-245 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Pawel Urbanowicz

    (Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-245 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Miroslaw Orzechowski

    (Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-245 Olsztyn, Poland)

Abstract

Large areas of peatlands, in addition to the effect of drainage, were subjected to erosional process and were silted. The objective of the study was to verify whether siltation of peatlands hampers mineralization of remaining peat and alters labile C, N, P and K. Total C and N were measured on a CN analyzer, and total P and K on an ICP spectrometer after microwave digestion. The labile fractions of C, N, P and K were extracted with hot water and measured on the CN analyzer and ICP spectrometer. We noted that labile C, N, P and K concentrations in silted topsoil were lower than the values reported in unsilted topsoil. Higher concentration of labile compounds in peats is a signal of higher biological activity and mineralization of organic matter. A TOC/TP < 300 and TOC/TN of approximately 8 in topsoil suggested diminished mineralization and supported our hypothesis that siltation hampered mineralization of organic matter. The TOC/TK ratio proved to be a fine indicator of the state of organic soils siltation, which enabled the separation of unsilted peats from silted topsoil (on the base of value of 177). It can be assumed that the mineralization of peat layers is hampered by the above lying silted topsoil, which is less biologically active, having less oxygen, and therefore conserving underlying peats against oxidation.

Suggested Citation

  • Slawomir Smolczynski & Barbara Kalisz & Pawel Urbanowicz & Miroslaw Orzechowski, 2021. "Effect of Peatland Siltation on Total and Labile C, N, P and K," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-11, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8240-:d:600146
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Andrzej Łachacz & Barbara Kalisz & Paweł Sowiński & Bożena Smreczak & Jacek Niedźwiecki, 2023. "Transformation of Organic Soils Due to Artificial Drainage and Agricultural Use in Poland," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Ryszard Oleszczuk & Andrzej Łachacz & Barbara Kalisz, 2022. "Measurements versus Estimates of Soil Subsidence and Mineralization Rates at Peatland over 50 Years (1966–2016)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-19, December.

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