Articles | Volume 12, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-2861-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-2861-2015
Research article
 | 
19 May 2015
Research article |  | 19 May 2015

Biogeochemical indicators of peatland degradation – a case study of a temperate bog in northern Germany

J. P. Krüger, J. Leifeld, S. Glatzel, S. Szidat, and C. Alewell

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Cited articles

Accoe, F., Boeckx, P., Van Cleemput, O., and Hofman, G.: Relationship between soil organic C degradability and the evolution of the delta13C signature in profiles under permanent grassland, Rapid Commun. Mass Sp., 17, 2591–2596, https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.1202, 2003.
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Short summary
Biogeochemical soil parameters are studied to detect peatland degradation along a land use gradient (intensive, extensive, near-natural). Stable carbon isotopes, radiocarbon ages and ash content confirm peat growth in the near-natural bog but also indicate previous degradation. When the bog is managed extensively or intensively as grassland, all parameters indicate degradation and substantial C loss of the order of 18.8 to 42.9 kg C m-2.
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