Re-vegetation processes in cutaway peat production fields in Estonia in relation to peat quality and water regime.
Eighty-one cutaway peat production fields with a total area of about 9000 ha exist and were studied in Estonia in 2005-2015. Only a very small number of the fields (seven) have been restored-either afforested or used for growing berries. The re-vegetation of Estonian cutaway peat production fields is mainly the result of natural processes, which are generally very slow due to an unfavourable water regime or a too thin remaining peat layer. The fields are mostly covered by cotton grass and birches. Often sparse vegetation covers 15-20% of a peat field, but some fields have turned into heaths or grasslands with plant coverage up to 60%. However, due to changes in environmental (mainly hydrological) conditions and peat characteristics (mainly peat type), these areas can also be new niches for several species. A number of moss species new to or rare in Estonia, e.g. Pohlia elongata, Ephemerum serratum, Campylopus introflexus and Bryum oblongum, were recorded.
Department of Mining, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086, Tallinn, Estonia. mall.orru@ttu.ee.|Geological Survey of Estonia, Kadaka tee 82, 12618, Tallinn, Estonia. mall.orru@ttu.ee.
Mall
M
Orru
Department of Silviculture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014, Tartu, Estonia.
Katri
K
Ots
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.|Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, SE-901 87, Umea, Sweden.
Hans
H
Orru
D057914:Agricultural Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D004957:Estonia; D006109:Poaceae / Q000254:growth & development*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards
D012987:Soil
Cutaway peat fields; Estonia; Peat; Re-vegetation; Water regime