The dependence of net soil CO2 emissions on water table depth in boreal peatlands drained for forestry

Abstract

The aim of this study was to build regression models between mean water table depth (WTD, cm) and net soil CO2 emissions (g m−2 year−1) using data from boreal peatlands drained for forestry. We found that net soil CO2 emissions increased linearly with increasing WTD to depths of approximately 60 cm. The regression equations differed between nutrient rich (n = 33) and nutrient poor (n = 39) study sites: net soil CO2 emissions = -115 + 12 × WTD (nutrient rich); net soil CO2 emissions = -259 + 6 × WTD (nutrient poor). These regressions can be used to estimate changes in CO2 emissions associated with changes in forest management practices.

Keywords

• carbon dioxide
• drainage
• forestry
• greenhouse gas emission
• peat loss