Comparison of the transformation of organic matter flux through a raised bog and a blanket bog

Abstract

This study has proposed that organic matter transfer and transformation into and through a peatland is dominated by preferential loss of carbohydrates and the retention of lignin-like molecules. Here we used elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis to analyse the biomass, litter, peat soil profile, particulate organic matter, and dissolved organic matter fluxes sampled from a continental raised bog in comparison a maritime blanket bog. The macromolecular composition and thermodynamic analysis showed that in the raised bog there had been little or no transformation of the organic matter and the accumulation was rapid with comparatively little transformation with only 13% loss of cellulose by 1 m depth compared to 92% removal of cellulosic material in the blanket bog. The lack of transformation is reflected in a difference in long term carbon accumulation rates between raised and blanket bog sites. We propose that raised bogs, with their lack of a stream outfall, have high stable water tables that mean the pore water become thermodynamically closed and reactions cease higher in the peat profile than in a blanket bog where sloping sites mean a frequent flushing of pore water and discharge of water leading to fluctuating water tables, flushing of reaction products and pore spaces remaining open.

Topography and Time Shape Mire Morphometry and Large‐Scale Mire Distribution Patterns in the Northern Boreal Landscape

“…Rebound is also occurring in a landscape that is comparatively more rugged than the HBL, with upslope catchment areas supplying mires with water and solutes. Apart from the role of topography, cold, mid and northern boreal climates are generally unfavorable for ombrogenic mires due to the influence of surface and ground water (Almquist-Jacobson & Foster, 1995;Damman, 1986;Foster & Glaser, 1986;Sallinen et al, 2023), which may promote peat decay (e.g., Glatzel et al, 2023). This soligenous water supply may be higher in northern climates due to high precipitation and low evapotranspiration during the autumn and winter period (Sallinen et al, 2023;Sjörs, 1990) compared to drier climates.…”

High-resolution Carbon cycling data from 2019 to 2021 measured at six Austrian LTER sites

“…The current mean water table depth is about 14 cm below soil surface at the central peat bog area. Peat decomposition and related CO2 and CH4 fluxes were subject of a series of research studies (Drollinger et al, 2019;Knierzinger et al, 2020;Müller et al, 2022;Glatzel et al, 2023).…”

Editorial: Peatlands for climate change mitigation in agriculture

“…Two papers in this collection assess the dynamics of organic matter mineralization in different peatland types. The work by Glatzel et al (2023) assesses mineralization dynamics and dissolved organic matter fluxes in two common peatland types, blanket bogs and raised bogs. They found that blanket bogs have higher hydrological C losses compared to raised bogs due to greater hydrological conductivity to the adjacent landscape.…”