How Peatland is Affected by Neighboring Agriculture – A Combined Approach to Determine Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition at a Moderately-Drained Peat Bog Site

Authors:
Miriam Hurkuck, Christian Brümmer, Werner L. Kutsch

Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress

Venue:
Stockholm

Keywords:
ammonia, kaps-denuder, nitrogen-deposition, raised-bog

Documentfile:
Hurkuck et al 2012: A Combined Approach to Determine Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition at a Moderately-Drained Peat Bog Site

Summary:

Theme III. Agricultural use of peat and peatlands

SUMMARY

In this study, we aim to quantify dry atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition at a semi-natural peat bog site. First results show ammonia (NH3) being the site’s most important reactive N species on a quantity basis. Ammonia concentrations range from 0.9 to 13.0 μg m-3. Based on these results, we found a total dry N deposition of about 5 kg ha-1 during the first eight months of the experiment. Extrapolation of data to one year amounts approximately to 9 kg ha-1 yr-1.

Our results suggest that the intensive agricultural practices of surrounding areas most likely leads to increasing N input into the bog and a shift in both vegetation composition and local hydrology is expected.