Sanding of drained peatlands

Abstract

The results of many years of original research based on soil-ecological monitoring showed the development of degradation processes of previously drained peat soils of the Ryazan Meshchera. Structural amelioration (sanding) of peat soils had some positive effect. The aim of the research was to study the properties of the dried peat soil at reclamation site Tinki-II in the settlement of Polkovo, Ryazan District of Ryazan Region, as a result of sanding. The most common type of German mixed-layer sanding was used in investigations. The methodology was based on the principle of comparing the state of dried peat soil before and after sanding. The content of the less than 0.01 mm fractions was 4.3 %, the rest consisted of particles from 0.25 to 0.05 mm; the pH of the salt extract was 5.7. Mineral fertilizers were applied in the experiment in small quantities: ammonium nitrate -180 g, superphosphate -185 g and potassium sulfate -260 g. The water supply was atmospheric-ground. Variant 2 was more effectivesanding with a dose of 1200 t/ha for sluicing and maintaining GWL = 90 cm, as evidenced by improved water-physical properties of the soil: the total porosity increased by 5 %; the total water capacity decreased from 270 to 70%, that was almost 4 times.

Effect of Peatland Siltation on Total and Labile C, N, P and K

“…The response of labile organic matter to drainage and siltation supported our hypothesis that siltation of drained peatlands hampers the mineralization of the remaining peat layers. It was notable that siltation did not stop the mineralization but to some extent retarded the negative changes and loss of organic C. The results of our study are in line with the previous findings of the positive effect of peatland sanding [32]-covering peatlands with a layer of sand to enable agricultural use of peatlands.…”

“…Siltation occurring on the peatlands located near the slopes may have a similar effect. Zakharova et al [32] reported that the sanding of peat soils had some positive effect, i.e., improved soil physical properties. From an environmental point of view, Zaidel'man et al [33] reported that sand application increases the loss of peat organic matter via CO 2 emission from the soil surface to the atmosphere.…”

Luminescence of neutron-irradiated quartz crystals

“…It is known that point defects of the structure are formed in quartz crystals under the action of neutrons, local centers are transformed and structural phase transformations are observed [1,2]. The study of various physicochemical properties of neutron-irradiated crystals shows that up to doses of 10 17 n/cm 2 , mainly the manifestation of pre-radiation defects, impurity color centers, transformation of local centers and radiation-induced point defects of the structure is observed [3].…”

Assessment of topsoil removal as an effective method for vegetation restoration in farmed peatlands

“…These materials are homogenized with surface soil horizons or were leached into the deeper horizons during cultivation on peatlands (Kalisz et al, 2021). Former studies reported that the soil amendment type significantly affected soil physical properties, soil nutrients, and the size of soil seed banks (Zakharova et al, 2020;Kalisz et al, 2021;Smolczynski et al, 2021). However, poor information is available on whether topsoil removal can help in restoring the target species, such as Carex species, and how soil amendment types affect vegetation restoration in farmed peatlands during restoration.…”