Articles | Volume 23, issue 15
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-5549-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-5549-2026
Research article
 | 
12 Aug 2026
Research article |  | 12 Aug 2026

Estimation of the degree of decomposition of peat and past net primary production from mid-infrared spectra

Henning Teickner, Julien Arsenault, Mariusz Gałka, and Klaus-Holger Knorr

Data sets

Peatland Mid-Infrared Database (1.0.0) Henning Teickner et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17092587

Infrared Spectra (FTIR) of Phragmites Australis Litter, Initial and after Anoxic Decomposition in Three Wetland Substrates M. Elvert and D. Zak https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.902069

CuO Lignin, and Bulk Decomposition Data of a 75-Day Anoxic Phragmites Australis Litter Decomposition Experiment in Soil Substrates from Three Northeast German Wetlands M. Elvert and D. Zak https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.902176

Model code and software

mmgm: Estimates the degree of decomposition of peat with a mixing model for γMIRS Henning Teickner https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17209338

irpeatmodels: Mid-infrared prediction models for peat Henning Teickner https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17187912

irpeat 0.3.0: Functions to Analyze Mid-Infrared Spectra of Peat Samples Henning Teickner and Suzanne Hodgkins https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17200517

Compendium of R code and data for "Estimation of the Degree of Decomposition of Peat and Past Net Primary Production from Mid-Infrared Spectra" Henning Teickner et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.21574541

Patterns and Drivers of Organic Matter Decomposition in Peatland Open-Water Pools J. Arsenault et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.10581235

Compendium of R Code and Data for ``Estimation of the Degree of Decomposition of Peat and Past Net Primary Production from Mid-Infrared Spectra'' H. Teickner et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.17209547

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Short summary
We present a method to estimate the degree of decomposition (fraction of initial mass remaining) of peat from mid-infrared spectra, which also allows to reconstruct the initial mass (aboveground net primary production). Both quantities are required to estimate the mass and carbon balance of peatlands and are useful to model peat physical and hydraulic properties. The approach is therefore useful to test and improve peatland models and our understanding of the long-term peatland carbon cycle.
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