Artificial drainage of peatlands: hydrological and hydrochemical process and wetland restoration

Peatlands have been subject to artificial drainage for centuries. This drainage has been in response to agricultural demand, forestry, horticultural and energy properties of peat and alleviation of flood risk. However, the are several environmental problems associated with drainage of peatlands. This paper describes the nature of these problems and examines the evidence for changes in hydrological and hydrochemical processes associated with these changes. Traditional black-box water balance approaches demonstrate little about wetland dynamics and therefore the science of catchment response to peat drainage is poorly understood. It is crucial that a more process-based approach be adopted within peatland ecosystems. The environmental problems associated with peat drainage have led, in part, to a recent reversal in attitudes to peatlands and we have seen a move towards wetland restoration. However, a detailed understanding of hydrological, hydrochemical and ecological process-interactions will be fundamental if we are to adequately restore degraded peatlands, preserve those that are still intact and understand the impacts of such management actions at the catchment scale

Hydraulic nutrient transport in a restored peatland buffer

The aim of this study was to investigate the hydraulic transport of nitrate (NO3–) and phosphate (PO43–) in a restored peatland buffer by quantifying the nitrate and phosphate input–output balance and nutrient transport in the buffer. The area of the buffer was ca. 0.5 ha, and it amounted to ca. 15%–25% of the water catchment area above. Nitrate and phosphate were added continuously during June–July in 1999, applying Ca(NO3)2 (110 kg Ca, 90 kg N ha–1) and K3PO4 (38 kg K, 30 kg P ha–1) water solution in the experimental area. Nutrient transport and retention in the buffer were monitored in the site in 1998–2001. Only ca. 0.5% of added nitrate and ca. 7% of added phosphate was leached through the buffer during the period 1999–2001. Especially added nitrate was retained in a relatively small area in the upper experimental area, ca. 0.2 ha, whereas added phosphate spread out to a much larger area. The results obtained indicate that the buffer is capable of removing effectively especially nitrate but also phosphate from throughflowing water, if the buffer area is large enough, and if the slope of the buffer is suitable