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Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality

Received: 5 April 2019     Accepted: 10 June 2019     Published: 27 June 2019
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Abstract

White horticultural peat is proven to be a superior growing medium. It is microbiologically active, it binds nutrients and water significantly due to its favorable cation exchange capacity and porosity. Unfortunately, horticultural peat is a very slowly renewable biomass, and good quality horticultural peat is not so common even in peatland-rich countries. Therefore, good-quality and simultaneously renewable growing media alternatives are needed. A new growing medium introduced in recent years is based on Sphagnum moss biomass. According to our results, shallow Sphagnum moss biomass harvesting extended down to a depth of not over 30 cm did not cause any harmful effects on watercourses during the short-term period after harvesting. On the contrary, it is well-known that traditional peat extraction increases the leaching of suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon and nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus into watercourses located downstream. The leaching of SS, DOC and nutrients from peat extraction areas is a significant local problem, since the nutrient leaching may cause enhanced eutrophication and decreased biodiversity, especially in vulnerable headwaters. Because of the probably negligible harmful effects on the water quality, Sphagnum moss biomass can be considered as a truly environmental-friendly growing medium compared with the conventionally extracted white horticultural peat.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 7, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15
Page(s) 34-39
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Renewable Growing Medium, Sphagnum Mosses, Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting, Water Quality

References
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[2] Reinikainen, O. & Picken, P. (2008). Horticultural and environmental use of peat. In: Riitta Korhonen, Leila Korpela and Sakari Sarkkola (eds.), Finland ‒ Fenland: pp. 189-195.
[3] Schmilewski, G. (2008). The role of peat in assuring the quality of growing media. Mires and Peat, 3, 1-8.
[4] Silvan, N., Jokinen, K., Näkkilä, J. & Tahvonen, R. (2017). Swift recovery of Sphagnum carpet and carbon sequestration after shallow Sphagnum biomass harvesting. Mires and Peat, 20, 1-11.
[5] Kämäräinen, A., Simojoki, A., Linden, L., Jokinen, K. & Silvan, N. 2018. Physical growing media characteristics of Sphagnum biomass dominated by Sphagnum fuscum (Schimp.) Klinggr. Mires and Peat, 21, 1‒16.
[6] Elling, A. E. & Knighton, M. D. (1984). Sphagnum moss recovery after harvest in a Minnesota bog. Journal of soil and water conservation, 39, 209-211.
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[9] Diaz, M. F., Tapia, C., Jimenez, P. & Bacigalupe, L. (2012). Sphagnum magellanicum growth and productivity in Chilean anthropogenic peatlands. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, 85, 513-518.
[10] Quinty, F. & Rochefort, L. (2003). Peatland Restoration Guide, second edition. Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association and New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy. Quebec, Canada.
[11] Gaudig, G. & Joosten, H. (2002). Peat moss (Sphagnum) as a renewable resource -an alternative to Sphagnum peat in horticulture. In G. Schmilewski and L. Rochefort (eds.), Peat in horticulture. Quality and environmental challenges. International Peat Society, Jyväskylä, pp. 117-125.
[12] Laine, J., Vasander, H., Hotanen, J.-P., Nousiainen, H., Saarinen, M. & Penttilä, T. (2012). Suotyypit ja turvekankaat ‒ opas kasvupaikkojen tunnistamiseen. Metsäkustannus. 160 pp. (In Finnish).
[13] Clausen J. C. & Brooks, K. N. (1983). Quality of runoff from Minnesota peatlands. Water Research Bulletin, 19, 763-767.
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[16] Kløve B. (1997). Leaching of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter from a plough-drained peatland in Central Finland. In: Kløve, B. 1997. Environmental impact of peat mining, development of storm-water treatment methods. Ph. D. Thesis, Lund University, 159 pp.
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[22] Silvan, N., Silvan, K., Näkkilä, J., Tahvonen, R. & Reinikainen, O. (2012). Renewability, use and properties of Sphagnum biomass for growing media purposes. In: Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress, session Sphagnum Farming, extended abstract number 55.
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[26] Nieminen, M., Ahti, E., Koivusalo, H., Mattsson, T., Sarkkola, S. & Lauren, A. 2010. Export of suspended solids and dissolved elements from peatland areas after ditch network maintenance in South-Central Finland. Silva Fennica, 44 (1), 39-49.
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  • APA Style

    Niko Silvan. (2019). Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 7(1), 34-39. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15

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    ACS Style

    Niko Silvan. Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2019, 7(1), 34-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15

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    AMA Style

    Niko Silvan. Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2019;7(1):34-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15,
      author = {Niko Silvan},
      title = {Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
      volume = {7},
      number = {1},
      pages = {34-39},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20190701.15},
      abstract = {White horticultural peat is proven to be a superior growing medium. It is microbiologically active, it binds nutrients and water significantly due to its favorable cation exchange capacity and porosity. Unfortunately, horticultural peat is a very slowly renewable biomass, and good quality horticultural peat is not so common even in peatland-rich countries. Therefore, good-quality and simultaneously renewable growing media alternatives are needed. A new growing medium introduced in recent years is based on Sphagnum moss biomass. According to our results, shallow Sphagnum moss biomass harvesting extended down to a depth of not over 30 cm did not cause any harmful effects on watercourses during the short-term period after harvesting. On the contrary, it is well-known that traditional peat extraction increases the leaching of suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon and nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus into watercourses located downstream. The leaching of SS, DOC and nutrients from peat extraction areas is a significant local problem, since the nutrient leaching may cause enhanced eutrophication and decreased biodiversity, especially in vulnerable headwaters. Because of the probably negligible harmful effects on the water quality, Sphagnum moss biomass can be considered as a truly environmental-friendly growing medium compared with the conventionally extracted white horticultural peat.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality
    AU  - Niko Silvan
    Y1  - 2019/06/27
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    SP  - 34
    EP  - 39
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7667
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15
    AB  - White horticultural peat is proven to be a superior growing medium. It is microbiologically active, it binds nutrients and water significantly due to its favorable cation exchange capacity and porosity. Unfortunately, horticultural peat is a very slowly renewable biomass, and good quality horticultural peat is not so common even in peatland-rich countries. Therefore, good-quality and simultaneously renewable growing media alternatives are needed. A new growing medium introduced in recent years is based on Sphagnum moss biomass. According to our results, shallow Sphagnum moss biomass harvesting extended down to a depth of not over 30 cm did not cause any harmful effects on watercourses during the short-term period after harvesting. On the contrary, it is well-known that traditional peat extraction increases the leaching of suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon and nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus into watercourses located downstream. The leaching of SS, DOC and nutrients from peat extraction areas is a significant local problem, since the nutrient leaching may cause enhanced eutrophication and decreased biodiversity, especially in vulnerable headwaters. Because of the probably negligible harmful effects on the water quality, Sphagnum moss biomass can be considered as a truly environmental-friendly growing medium compared with the conventionally extracted white horticultural peat.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Bio-based Business and Industry, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Parkano, Finland

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