Fertilization ensures rapid formation of ground vegetation on cut-away peatlands

Abstract

Mechanical harvesting of peatlands completely changes the original bog ecosystem and without afteruse causes long-lasting disturbance in the environment due to the limited restoration capacity of the habitat. We studied the effects of fertilization on the establishment of vegetation on a cut-away peatland in Finland. Six treatments of different quantities and mixtures of wood ash, peat ash, biotite, or forest P–K fertilizer were replicated in three plots. Although all the fertilizers accelerated the revegetation of a cut-away peatland significantly, ash-based fertilizers had the greatest and most immediate impact on the formation of vegetation. Ash fertilizers especially increased the coverage of small fire-loving moss species such as Ceratodon purpureus (Hedw.) Brid., Funaria hygrometrica Hedw., and Leptobryum pyriforme (Hedw.) Wils. in the early stages of the succession. Furthermore, the succeeding coverage of vascular plants improves nutritional conditions through the rapid accumulation and decomposition of plant-derived litter. The rapid formation of ground vegetation on bare peat surface after ash fertilizer application indicated that wood and peat ash are suitable for mined peatlands. This being the case, peat and wood ash should be regarded more as a recyclable constituent rather than as waste in afforestation of cut-away peatlands.