Sphagnum Farming on Bog Grassland in Germany – First Results

Authors:
Matthias Krebs, Greta Gaudig and Hans Joosten

Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress

Venue:
Stockholm

Keywords:
establishment, growing-media, sphagnum-palustre, sphagnum-papillosum

Documentfile:
Krebs et al 2012: Sphagnum Farming on Bog Grassland in Germany – First Results

Summary:

Theme V. Restoration, rehabilitation and after-use of disturbed peatlands

SUMMARY

The production of peat moss biomass on an industrial scale is being investigated on a 4 ha bog grassland in Northwest Germany. After sod removal, peat moss (S. palustre, S. papillosum) was mechanically spread on bare peat and covered with straw. Different cover densities and sizes of peat moss fragments were tested.
After six months the peat mosses had established well and had in parts developed already into a dense Sphagnum lawn. Cover and lawn thickness of S. palustre surpassed that of S. papillosum in particular when spread as entire mosses.
The management of water supply is essential for the successful establishment of peat mosses and their subsequent growth.