Authors:
Katja Osterloh, Nadine Tauchnitz, Sabine Bernsdorf, Hans-Ulrich Kison, Ralph Meißner
Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress
Venue:
Stockholm
Keywords:
mire, peat-soil, phosphorus-mobilisation, rewetting, wetland-species
Documentfile:
Osterloh et al 2012: First Results of the Soil Water, Nutrient and Vegetation Dynamics of a Rewetted Mire in the German Harz N
Summary:
Theme V. Restoration, rehabilitation and after-use of disturbed peatlands
SUMMARY
This study aimed to investigate changes of the nutrient and vegetation dynamics of a drained mire caused by rewetting to assess the long-term success for the mires regeneration. We measured relevant parameters for the water balance like precipitation, water table levels and discharge amounts as well as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) concentrations of the mire pore water and peat soil and other relevant parameters for the nutrient dynamic like oxygen levels and redox potentials in the mire pore water and pH and electric conductivity in the mire pore water and peat soil before and after rewetting. Our results showed significant increasing water table levels at the rewetted mire zones and decreasing nitrate (NO3-N) and ammonium (NH4-N) concentrations in the mire pore water. Temporary increasing P concentrations in the mire pore water and decreasing P contents in the peat soil after rewetting suggests a rising P mobility. Changes of vegetation like spruce dieback and an increase of wetland species like Carex canescens, Agrostis canina and Eriophorum angustifolium were observed already one year after rewetting.