Enzymatic Activity as New Moorsh-Forming Process Indicators of Peatlands

Lech W Szajdak,Teresa Meysner,Marek Szczepański

doi:10.3390/agronomy11010113

Lech W Szajdak, Teresa Meysner + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11010113

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to comprehensively assess the change in oxidoreductive enzyme activities, due to the potential in catalyzing oxidation and reduction reactions, as the basic processes on undrained and drained peat soils. On undrained peatlands, a significant decrease of enzyme activities was observed such as xanthine oxidase, urate oxidase, phenol oxidase, and peroxidase with an increase in depth. It was connected with significantly higher porosity values, hot water extractable organic carbon, and total organic nitrogen contents, ammonium and nitrate ions concentrations, and significantly lower ash and bulk density values in the upper layers. On drained peatlands, a significant increase of enzyme activities in depth was measured. Enzyme activities such as xanthine, urate, phenol oxidase, and peroxidase were documented to be effective as new indicators and tools for changes of the moorsh-forming process in association with the oscillation of the water table caused by the drainage of the peatlands.

Highlights

Peatlands are a type of wetlands that are the most valuable ecosystems on earth showing an important function in many biogeochemical cycles, through filtering and clarifying water as biogeochemical barriers
The drainage was the key reason for significant changes in ash and bulk density values in peatlands, which was shown by a significant correlation (r = 0.990) which was related to a significant increase in porosity in depth (Table 5, Figure 5A)
Our study has shown that the enzyme activity increased at lower ash and bulk density values (Table 4)

Summary

Introduction

Peatlands are a type of wetlands that are the most valuable ecosystems on earth showing an important function in many biogeochemical cycles, through filtering and clarifying water as biogeochemical barriers. Peatlands are critical for preserving global biodiversity, minimizing flood risk, and climate change [1]. Most of the peatland areas are still in a natural state, where only 15% of the world’s peatlands have been drained and degraded. It should be noted that peat accumulation depends on the balance between production and decay. Worldwide, undrained peatlands of 3 million km presently release up to 100 Megaton of carbon/year [2]. The exact accumulation level depends on the peatland type. Too low and high water levels are detrimental to peat accumulation [3]

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