Soil hydraulic properties and release of CO₂ from peat soils

The main objective of the project is the investigation of hydrological processes and their interaction to biogeochemical processes in organic soils.

Background and Objective

Peatlands are drained worldwide for economical uses and therefore turn into a source of greenhouse gas emissions. Measured CO₂-fluxes from peat soils show a high variability. Although soil hydrological and chemical variables are identified as key parameters, a major part of the variability remains unexplained. The project will face these challenges and investigate  hydraulic-, physical- and chemical properties of peat soils and their interaction to biogeochemical processes.

Approach

1. Determination of soil hydraulic properties of organic soils with laboratory evaporation experiments and inverse parameter optimization.
2. Investigate how representative soil hydraulic properties determined in the laboratory are for larger scales.
3. Analysis of the wettability of organic soils and the influence on soil hydraulic properties and the stabilization of organic carbon.
4. Development of approaches for an improved soil hydrological modeling of peatlands with the aim to improve the interpretation of biogeochemical field data.

Thünen-Contact

• Dettmann, Ullrich Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture

Involved Thünen-Partners

• Tiemeyer, Bärbel Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture

Involved external Thünen-Partners

• Leibniz Universität Hannover Institut für Bodenkunde
  (Hannover, Deutschland)

Duration

9.2016 - 8.2021

More Information

Projekt type:
Project status: ongoing

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