Linking blanket bog management, habitat status and climate to peat chemistry, carbon storage and water quality

The project will explore the underpinning peat chemical properties impacting on decomposition and resulting blanket bog ecosystem services specifically carbon storage and water quality. The project will make use of an existing Defra project set up in addition to a mesocosm study. Chemical composition of peat from a spectrum of degraded to restored sites and from burnt, mown and uncut control areas will be identified. Decomposition and pore water quality in situ and in mesocosms from various climate scenarios will be measured. Vegetation and priming effects on decomposition and water quality will be investigated. The overall project aim is to identify key chemical plant-soil related process regulating peatland carbon cycling in order to produce sound advice on best practice management.