Enhanced silicon availability leads to increased methane production, nutrient and toxicant mobility in peatlands.

ABSTRACT: Peatlands perform important ecosystem functions, such as carbon storage and nutrient retention, which are affected, among other factors, by vegetation and peat decomposition. The availability of silicon (Si) in peatlands differs strongly, ranging from <1 to >25 mg L^-1. Since decomposition of organic material was recently shown to be accelerated by Si, the aim of this study was to examine how Si influences decomposition of carbon and nutrient and toxicant mobilization in peatlands. We selected a fen site in Northern Bavaria with naturally bioavailable Si pore water concentrations of 5 mg/L and conducted a Si addition experiment. At a fourfold higher Si availability, dissolved organic carbon, carbon dioxide, and methane concentrations increased significantly. Furthermore, dissolve

SUBMITTER: Reithmaier GS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5562759 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature