Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the impact of long-term drainage on the morphology and selected properties of shallow peatland soils in microrelief. The study was conducted within strongly drained peatland (Długie Mokradło bog) located on elevated plateau in the Central Sudetes. The study area is covered by spruce stands introduced by man. Long-term drainage has changed morphology of study soils which were classified as Ombric Fibric Dystric Histosols or Histic Dystric Gleysols. Some peat horizons were strongly silted. The depth of organic materials varied within the range 30-55 cm. Peat humification process showed greater - activity in surface horizons, than in a deeper ones. This phenomenon were especially visible in the shallow places in drainage ditches. Soil reaction was strongly acidic. In soil horizons in old drainage ditches higher values of effective cation exchange capacity (CECe) were recorded, whereas base saturation (BS) did not exceed 20%.
Highlights
Drying of peatlands located on many plateau areas in the Stołowe Mountains at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries led to the changes of landscape morphology in the macro- as well as in the microrelief (Migoń et al 2011)
Processes occurring within drainage peatlands such as subsidence, reducing the depth of peat, its mineralization were affected by condition and functioning of drainage ditches (Laiho 2008)
Shallow drainage ditches are exposed to quick overgrowing (Minayeva et al 2009, Marttila and Klove 2010)
Summary
Drying of peatlands located on many plateau areas in the Stołowe Mountains at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries led to the changes of landscape morphology in the macro- as well as in the microrelief (Migoń et al 2011). Processes occurring within drainage peatlands such as subsidence, reducing the depth of peat, its mineralization were affected by condition and functioning of drainage ditches (Laiho 2008). Among ditch trenching factors there are : organic matter slime (Sallantaus 1988, Prevost et al 1999) and periodic bank ditch washing by retaining water (Rantonen and Paivanen 1999) – in the steep area the collapse of ditch walls is often observed, it might be the consequences of peat freezing and erosion (Berry and Jeglum 1991). The shallow organic soils are especially exposed to erosive drainage. Shallow drainage ditches are exposed to quick overgrowing (Minayeva et al 2009, Marttila and Klove 2010). Soil material accumulated in lower ground forms is usually enriched in macronutrients in comparison to material occurring between ditches (Pietilainen and Rekolainen 1991, Joensuu et al 1999)
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