Category FAQs Search : Ecosystem
Question: How to determine the physical and chemical properties of peatland?
Answer: The physical and chemical properties of peat can be determined by using field, laboratory and
modelling techniques. Due to the inherently unstable properties of peat, the use of each of these
methods presents some difficulties. Consequently, different methods are often combined to deliver
multiple estimates for the same parameters. One common semi-quantitative technique to assess the
degree of peat humification is the Von Post scale. The Von Post scale considers:
• the colour and turbidity of the water squeezed from a peat sample;
• the proportion of peat extruded between fingers; and
• the type of plant residues visible in the sample.
The Von Post value is a fair proxy to estimate both the state of decomposition and physical (hydraulic)
parameters of the peat layer. Recent work using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques has confirmed
the strong connection between peat chemistry and hydrology. Hydraulic conductivity depends on peat
decomposition and the type of vegetation in the peat, both of which have a chemical signature (Grover
and Baldock, 2013).
(Source: MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN AGRICULTURE SERIES 9 - Climate-responsible peatlands management (Food and Agriculture of United Nations), 28 Jan 2021)
Source Link: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4029e.pdf