Abstract
Cutaway peatland is a marginal land, which without further management is an unfavourable environment for plant growth due to low bearing capacity, high acidity and unbalanced nutrient composition of the soil. After wood-ash application, the soil becomes enriched with P and K, creating better conditions for tree growth. In addition to being economically viable, tree plantations ensure long-term carbon storage and promote habitat restoration. In a three-year term, we studied how distance from a drainage ditch and three different doses of wood-ash—5, 10, and 15 tons per hectare—affect the diversity of vascular plants in a tree plantation on a cutaway peatland. Plant species richness, vegetation cover and composition were positively affected by the distance from the drainage ditch and application with fertiliser, but in most cases, fertiliser dose had no significant effect. Both cover and species diversity were not affected by the planted tree species. In a tree plantation, herbaceous plants provide soil fertility by decay and recycling, and reduce mineral leaching in the long term. Since vascular plants play an important role in both the development of habitats and tree growth, it is important to know how multiple factors influence the development of vegetation in tree plantations.
Highlights
Published: 8 February 2022It is estimated that peatlands occupy 2.84 percent [1] of the land area globally
This study addresses the following research questions: (1) Does application of wood-ash fertiliser in cutaway peatland affect the abundance and richness of naturally colonising vascular plant species and does increasing the amount of the dose of fertiliser increase plant diversity? (2) Does the distance from a drainage ditch affect the number and composition of species? (3) Does the planted tree species affect the composition of ground vegetation within the same wood-ash fertiliser group? Based on previous studies, it was assumed that increasing the amount of wood-ash fertiliser applied per hectare would increase the richness of vascular plants
This study showed that both wood-ash fertiliser and distance from the drainage ditch, in addition to time after treatment application, have an impact on plant species richness, cover, and vegetation composition
Summary
It is estimated that peatlands occupy 2.84 percent [1] of the land area globally. These areas provide long-term carbon storage because the existing environmental conditions prevent plant material from decaying, causing accumulation in the ecosystem of a large amount of vegetation debris relative to the proportion of primary production [2]. Biomass accumulated as peat is removed from storage and used for either horticulture or energy production purposes [3]. Peat has been extracted in Latvia only for horticulture purposes [4]. The previous mire ecosystem is completely changed and, without further management, the potential for habitat recovery is very low [5].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
