Hydrological controls on soil redox dynamics in a peat-based, restored wetland

Niedermeier, A. and Robinson, J. S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1045-4412 (2007) Hydrological controls on soil redox dynamics in a peat-based, restored wetland. Geoderma, 137 (3-4). pp. 318-326. ISSN 0016-7061 doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2006.08.027

Abstract/Summary

Increasing areas of altered wetland are being restored by re-flooding the soil. Evidence in the literature indicates that this practice can induce the redox-mediated release of soil nutrients, thereby increasing the risk of diffuse water pollution. However, for the sake of improving wedand management decisions, there is a need for more detailed studies of the underlying relationship between the hydrological and redox dynamics that explain this risk; this is particularly the case in agricultural peatlands that are commonly targeted for the creation of lowland wet grassland. A 12-month field study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between hydrological fluctuations and soil redox potential (Eh) in a nutrient-rich peat field (32 g N kg(-1) and 1100 mg P kg(-1) in the surface 0-30 cm soil) that had been restored as lowland wet grassland from intensive arable production. Field tensiometers were installed at the 30-, 60- and 90-cm soil depths, and Pt electrodes at the 10-, 30-, 60- and 90-cm depths, for daily logging of soil water tension and Eh, respectively. The values for soil water tension displayed a strong negative relationship (P < 0.001) with monthly dip well observations of water table height. Calculations of soil water potential from the logged tension values were used, therefore, to provide a detailed profile of field water level and, together with precipitation data, explained some of the variation in Eh. For example, during the summer, alternating periods of aerobism (Eh > 330 mV) in the surface, 0-10 cm layer of peat coincided with intense precipitation events. Redox potential throughout the 30-100 cm profile also fluctuated seasonally; indeed, at all depths Eh displayed a strong, negative relationship (P < 0.001) with water table height over the 12-month study period. However, Eh throughout the 30-100 cm profile remained relatively low (< 230 mV), indicating permanently reduced conditions that are associated with denitrification and reductive dissolution of Fe-bound P. The implications of these processes in the N- and P-rich peat for wetland plant diversity and water quality are discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/3922
Item Type	Article
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Geography and Environmental Science Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Earth Systems Science Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Soil Research Centre
Uncontrolled Keywords	soil redox potential agricultural peat field hydrology wetland lowland wet grassland PHOSPHORUS MINERALIZATION EVERGLADES REDUCTION GRASSLAND NITROGEN IRON
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