Articles | Volume 19, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1321-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1321-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
04 Mar 2022
Research article |
| 04 Mar 2022
| 04 Mar 2022
Effects of peatland management on aquatic carbon concentrations and fluxes
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh, Bush Estate,
Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK
Marcella Branagan
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh, Bush Estate,
Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK
Environmental Research Institute, University of Highlands and
Islands, Castle St., Thurso, KW14 7JD, UK
Mike F. Billett
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh, Bush Estate,
Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of
Stirling, Stirling, UK
Roxane Andersen
Environmental Research Institute, University of Highlands and
Islands, Castle St., Thurso, KW14 7JD, UK
Kerry J. Dinsmore
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh, Bush Estate,
Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK
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We developed a simple way to predict how much dissolved organic carbon moves from soils into streams, and what types of carbon are present, using widely available data. By analysing 150 small catchments across Great Britain, we found that peat-rich landscapes release more carbon, especially forms that are resistant to breakdown, while farmland releases less and simpler forms. These patterns can be mapped at large scales, helping improve carbon cycle estimates and support water management.
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Managing drinking water catchments to minimise water colour could reduce costs for water companies and save their customers money. Brown-coloured water comes from peat soils, primarily around upland reservoirs. Management practices, including blocking drains, removing conifers, restoring peatland plants and reducing burning, have been used to try and reduce water colour. This work brings together published evidence of the effectiveness of these practices to aid water industry decision-making.
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Managing drinking water catchments to minimise water colour could reduce costs for water companies and save their customers money. Brown-coloured water comes from peat soils, primarily around upland reservoirs. Management practices, including blocking drains, removing conifers, restoring peatland plants and reducing burning, have been used to try and reduce water colour. This work brings together published evidence of the effectiveness of these practices to aid water industry decision-making.
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The condition of peatland largely determines its capacity to store carbon, but peatland condition is not accurately known. Combining the knowledge of management, vegetation, and detecting differences in seasonal surface movement from satellite radar data, we map peat condition. In a blanket bog landscape we discovered the presence of wetter and dryer conditions, which could help guide restoration decisions, and we conclude that this approach could be transferred peat management worldwide.
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Peatlands are a significant global carbon store, which can be compromised by drainage and afforestation. We measured the peat decomposition under a 30-year-old drained forest plantation: 115 ± 16 g C m−2 yr−1, ca. 40 % of total soil respiration. Considering input of litter from trees, our results indicate that the soils in these 30-year-old drained and afforested peatlands are a net sink for C, since substantially more C enters the soil as organic matter than is decomposed heterotrophically.
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Short summary
Peatlands have been subject to a range of land management regimes over the past century. This has affected the amount of carbon that drains into surrounding streams and rivers. In our study, we measured carbon concentrations in streams draining from drained, non-drained, and restored areas of the Flow Country blanket bog in N Scotland. We found that drained peatland had higher concentrations and fluxes of carbon relative to non-drained areas. Restored peatland areas were highly variable.
Peatlands have been subject to a range of land management regimes over the past century. This...
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