Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Soil carbon loss from drained agricultural peatland after coverage with mineral soil

Yuqiao Wang, Sonja Paul, Markus Jocher, Christophe Espic, Christine Alewell, Sönke Szidat, Jens Leifeld

The Science of The Total Environment · 2021

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Summary

This field study investigates soil carbon dynamics in drained agricultural peatland treated with mineral soil coverage, a proposed mitigation strategy. The authors quantify carbon loss and assess whether mineral soil capping reduces greenhouse gas emissions from converted peatland. Findings suggest that carbon loss continues despite such intervention, contributing to understanding of the resilience of degradation pathways in managed peatland systems.

UK applicability

Findings are directly relevant to UK peatland management, particularly in regions with extensive drained agricultural peatlands (East Anglia, Somerset Levels, Scottish lowlands). Results inform debate on the effectiveness of peatland restoration and capping strategies in UK agricultural and climate policy.

Key measures

Soil carbon loss rates, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon persistence in managed peatland systems post-capping

Outcomes reported

The study quantifies soil carbon loss from drained agricultural peatland following mineral soil coverage, and evaluates whether capping with mineral soil mitigates greenhouse gas emissions from these systems. Carbon loss pathways and their persistence despite intervention were assessed through field measurements.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Climate & greenhouse gas mitigation
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Switzerland
System type
Mixed farming
DOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149498
Catalogue ID
BFmowc29uu-uqmdun

Topic tags

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