Removing 10 cm of degraded peat mitigates unwanted effects of peatland rewetting: a mesocosm study

Quadra, Gabrielle Rabelo; Boonman, Coline C. F.; Vroom, Renske; Temmink, Ralph J. M.; Smolders, Alfons J. P.; Geurts, J.J.M.; Aben, Ralf; Weideveld, Stefan; Fritz, Christian

doi:10.1007/s10533-022-01007-6

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…Rewetting without topsoil removal probably has a positive effect on biomass production, especially for Azolla. Recent studies have shown, however, that this could lead to high CH 4 emissions (Harpenslager et al, 2015;Quadra et al, 2023). Our results indicate that smart crop choices can, to a certain extent, mitigate these effects.…”

Section: Biochemical Interactions With Paludicropsmentioning

confidence: 57%

“…Overall, our measured CH 4 fluxes were high despite the topsoil removal and the brackish conditions, which were expected to reduce CH 4 production, due to the removal of easily degradable carbon (Harpenslager et al, 2015;Quadra et al, 2023) and the reducing effect of salinity on CH 4 production (Van der Gon and Neue, 1995;Minick et al, 2019), respectively.…”

Section: Differences In Ch 4 Flux Of the Three Paludicropsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Therefore, if topsoil removal is applied, one should consider the potentially large CO 2 emissions associated with topsoil decomposition. Additionally, Quadra et al (2023) show that only 5 cm of topsoil removal might be sufficient to significantly reduce CH 4 emissions, suggesting that careful consideration of the amount of topsoil removal is warranted.…”

Section: Greenhouse Gas Balancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, with water tables below the surface, much of the produced CH 4 will be oxidized again resulting in low(er) emissions (Haldan et al, 2022). If soils are completely inundated, (nutrientrich) topsoil can be removed prior to rewetting to minimize high CH 4 emissions after peat rewetting (Harpenslager et al, 2015;Huth et al, 2020;Quadra et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A case study on topsoil removal and rewetting for paludiculture: effect on biogeochemistry and greenhouse gas emissions from Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia, and Azolla filiculoides

van den Berg,

Gremmen,

Vroom

et al. 2024

Biogeosciences

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Abstract. Rewetting drained peatlands for paludiculture purposes is a way to reduce peat oxidation (and thus CO2 emissions) while at the same time it could generate an income for landowners, who need to convert their traditional farming into wetland farming. The side effect of rewetting drained peatlands is that it potentially induces high methane (CH4) emissions. Topsoil removal could reduce this emission due to the removal of easily degradable carbon and nutrients. Another way to limit CH4 emissions is the choice in paludiculture species. In this study we conducted a field experiment in the coastal area of the Netherlands, in which a former non-intensively used drained peat grassland is rewetted to complete inundation (water table ∼ +18 cm) after a topsoil removal of ∼ 20 cm. Two emergent macrophytes with high potential of internal gas transport (Typha latifolia and Typha angustifolia), and a free floating macrophyte (Azolla filiculoides), were introduced and intensive measurement campaigns were conducted to capture CO2 and CH4 fluxes as well as soil and surface water chemistry. Greenhouse gas fluxes were compared with a high-productive peat meadow as a reference site. Topsoil removal reduced the amount of phosphorus and iron in the soil to a large extent. The total amount of soil carbon per volume stayed more or less the same. The salinity of the soil was in general high, defining the system as brackish. Despite the topsoil removal and salinity, we found very high CH4 emissions for T. latifolia (84.8 g CH4 m−2 yr−1) compared with the much lower emissions from T. angustifolia (36.9 g CH4 m−2 yr−1) and Azolla (22.3 g CH4 m−2 yr−1). The high emissions can be partly explained by the large input of dissolved organic carbon into the system, but it could also be caused by plant stress factors like salinity level and herbivory. For the total CO2 flux (including C-export), the rewetting was effective, with a minor uptake of CO2 for Azolla (−0.13 kg CO2 m−2 yr−1) and a larger uptake for the Typha species (−1.14 and −1.26 kg CO2 m−2 yr−1 for T. angustifolia and T. latifolia, respectively) compared with the emission of 2.06 kg CO2 m−2 yr−1 for the reference site. T. angustifolia and Azolla, followed by T. latifolia, seem to have the highest potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions after rewetting to flooded conditions (−1.4, 2.9, and 10.5 t CO2 eq. ha−1 yr−1, respectively) compared with reference drained peatlands (20.6 t CO2 eq. ha−1 yr−1). When considering the total greenhouse gas balance, other factors, such as biomass use and storage of topsoil after removal, should be considered. Especially the latter factor could cause substantial carbon losses if not kept in anoxic conditions. When calculating the radiative forcing over time for the different paludicrops, which includes the GHG fluxes and the carbon release from the removed topsoil, T. latifolia will start to be beneficial in reducing global warming after 93 years compared with the reference site. For both Azolla and T. angustifolia this will be after 43 years.

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Section: Biochemical Interactions With Paludicropsmentioning

confidence: 57%

Section: Differences In Ch 4 Flux Of the Three Paludicropsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Greenhouse Gas Balancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A case study on topsoil removal and rewetting for paludiculture: effect on biogeochemistry and greenhouse gas emissions from Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia, and Azolla filiculoides

van den Berg,

Gremmen,

Vroom

et al. 2024

Biogeosciences

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“…Elevated nutrient levels in degraded peat soil favor the establishment of fast-growing reed communities and, in case of inundated conditions, the formation of highly active detritus mud layers that function as biogeochemical hotspots for nutrient and CH 4 release (Zak et al 2018 ). Overall, revegetation, paludiculture crops and top soil recycling/removal have been shown to be effective measures to reduce the CH 4 emission potential in (re)flooded peatlands (Huth et al 2020 ; Boonman et al 2023 ; Quadra et al 2023 ).…”

Section: Effects Of Drainage and Rewetting On Peat Biogeochemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling microbial processes involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling and greenhouse gas emissions in rewetted peatlands by molecular biology

Gios,

Verbruggen,

Audet

et al. 2024

Biogeochemistry

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Restoration of drained peatlands through rewetting has recently emerged as a prevailing strategy to mitigate excessive greenhouse gas emissions and re-establish the vital carbon sequestration capacity of peatlands. Rewetting can help to restore vegetation communities and biodiversity, while still allowing for extensive agricultural management such as paludiculture. Belowground processes governing carbon fluxes and greenhouse gas dynamics are mediated by a complex network of microbial communities and processes. Our understanding of this complexity and its multi-factorial controls in rewetted peatlands is limited. Here, we summarize the research regarding the role of soil microbial communities and functions in driving carbon and nutrient cycling in rewetted peatlands including the use of molecular biology techniques in understanding biogeochemical processes linked to greenhouse gas fluxes. We emphasize that rapidly advancing molecular biology approaches, such as high-throughput sequencing, are powerful tools helping to elucidate the dynamics of key biogeochemical processes when combined with isotope tracing and greenhouse gas measuring techniques. Insights gained from the gathered studies can help inform efficient monitoring practices for rewetted peatlands and the development of climate-smart restoration and management strategies.

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Restoring organic matter, carbon and nutrient accumulation in degraded peatlands: 10 years Sphagnum paludiculture

et al. 2023

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Drained peatlands emit large amounts of greenhouse gases and cause downstream nutrient pollution. Rewetting aids in restoring carbon storage and sustaining unique biodiversity. However, rewetting for nature restoration is socio-economically not always feasible. Cultivation of Sphagnum biomass after rewetting allows agricultural production. In the short term, Sphagnum paludiculture is productive without fertilization but it remains unclear whether it sustains its functionality in the longer-term. We studied nutrient dynamics, organic matter build-up, and carbon and nutrient accumulation at a 16-ha Sphagnum paludiculture area in NW-Germany. Site preparation included topsoil removal and inoculation with Sphagnum and it was rewetted five and ten years ago and managed with mowing, irrigation, and ditch cleaning. The unfertilized sites were irrigated with (compared to bog conditions) nutrient-rich surface water and exposed to atmospheric nitrogen deposition of 21 kg N/ha/yr. Our data reveal that ten years of Sphagnum growth resulted in a new 30 cm thick organic layer, sequestering 2,600 kg carbon, 56 kg nitrogen, 3.2 kg phosphorus, and 9.0 kg potassium per ha/yr. Porewater nutrient concentrations were low and remained stable over time in the top layer, while ammonium concentrations decreased from 400–700 to 0–50 µmol/L in the peat profile over 10 years. Hydro-climatic fluctuations most likely caused the variation in ammonium in the top layer. We conclude that Sphagnum paludiculture enables rapid carbon and nutrient accumulation without active fertilization provided the biomass is not harvested, and provides perspective for bog restoration on agricultural peatlands. Large-scale application of Sphagnum paludiculture may mitigate environmental issues of unsustainable peatland-use.

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Removing 10 cm of degraded peat mitigates unwanted effects of peatland rewetting: a mesocosm study

Cited by 11 publications

References 88 publications

A case study on topsoil removal and rewetting for paludiculture: effect on biogeochemistry and greenhouse gas emissions from Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia, and Azolla filiculoides

A case study on topsoil removal and rewetting for paludiculture: effect on biogeochemistry and greenhouse gas emissions from Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia, and Azolla filiculoides

Unraveling microbial processes involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling and greenhouse gas emissions in rewetted peatlands by molecular biology

Restoring organic matter, carbon and nutrient accumulation in degraded peatlands: 10 years Sphagnum paludiculture

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