Sphagnum farming in Germany: how to maximize peatmoss yields

Authors:
Greta Gaudig, Matthias Krebs and Susanne Abel

Book:
Proceedings of the 15th International Peat Congress

Venue:
Kuching

Keywords:
cut-over-bogs, peatmoss, sphagnum-farming

Documentfile:
ipc16p461a164gaudig.krebs_.etal_.pdf

Summary:

Most promising areas for Sphagnum farming in Germany are degraded bogs in the northwest (Lower Saxony), like cut-over bogs or bog grasslands to produce Sphagnum biomass for growing media. Since 2004 we investigate in greenhouse and field experiments which site conditions stimulate Sphagnum growth and how they can be transferred to large-scale application. All experiments show the high and stable water table as the decisive factor for good Sphagnum growth, whereas fertilization is not necessary under nutrient rich conditions like in Lower Saxony. Thus, an automatic water management for Sphagnum farming sites is indispensable: irrigation during summer and discharge of surplus water to prevent flooding in particular during winter. As vascular plants may…