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Peatland as an ecosystem is important for regulating soil quality. When the peat covering Sphagnum layer is degraded, the remaining bare peat soil releases sediment to water streams, which pollutes and reduces biodiversity of rivers and water reservoirs. [20] Additionally trough wind and water erosion carbon can be released if the peat is blank ...
It is therefore important to protect this areas and restore degraded areas. To conserve, restore and improve management of peat lands is a cost efficient and relatively easy way to maintain ecosystem services. However, these the ecosystem services are not priced in a market and do not produce economic profit for the local communities.
Peat formation typically initiates as a paludification of a mineral soil forests, terrestrialisation of lakes, or primary peat formation on bare soils on previously glaciated areas. [3] A peatland that is actively forming peat is called a mire .
[citation needed] Peat is discouraged as a soil amendment by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, since 2003. [32] While bark or coir-based peat-free potting soil mixes are on the rise, particularly in the UK, peat is still used as raw material for horticulture in some other European countries, Canada, as well as parts of the United States.
This also allows for peat to accumulate provided the water does not flow too quickly. [4] A minerotrophic wetland may be alkaline or weakly acidic, which also influences vegetation communities. [6] Rich fens are often characterized by alkaline hydrologic conditions, allowing for more plant diversity. [6]
The decline in wetland habitat has far-reaching economic and societal implications. The degradation and loss of these habitats have resulted in the reduction of fish populations in terms of both their size and diversity. This, in turn, has led to a decrease in the availability of opportunities for both the commercial fishing industry and ...
The other major use of dried peat is as a soil amendment (sold as moss peat or sphagnum peat) to increase the soil's capacity to retain moisture and enrich the soil. [4] It is also used as a mulch . Some distilleries , notably in the Islay whisky-producing region, use the smoke from peat fires to dry the barley used in making Scotch whisky .
A wide variety of materials have been described as soil conditioners due to their ability to improve soil quality. Some examples include biochar, [3] bone meal, blood meal, coffee grounds, compost, compost tea, coir, manure, [4] straw, peat, sphagnum moss, vermiculite, sulfur, lime, hydroabsorbant polymers, [5] and biosolids.