In the northeast region of New Brunswick, the majority of peatlands are mainly used for horticultural purposes. Abandoned peatlands after peat extraction could represent one of the most important ecological resources ...In the northeast region of New Brunswick, the majority of peatlands are mainly used for horticultural purposes. Abandoned peatlands after peat extraction could represent one of the most important ecological resources through their remaining substrates： serving as agronomic, ecological or environmental value-added support to local development; and giving a second economic life to peatlands. To evaluate this innovative peat soil management, a study was conducted on three residual peatlands from the Acadian Peninsula. Their status was described through a physic-chemical characterization. The results suggest that the peat thickness and the mineral horizon characteristics are good indicators to identify these post-harvest peat soils. The studied sites were characterized by a flat topography, poor and unequal drainage inducing a variation of the water table level. The peat thickness ranged from 18 cm to 40 cm, while the thickness of the mineral horizon--mostly sandy--ranged between 20 cm and 30 cm. The chemical properties revealed an electrical conductivity above 50 μS·cm^-1, an acid pH, and a variable cation exchange capacity （1.3 cmolc·kg^-1 to 11.4 cmolc·kg^-1）. This preliminary study gives basic knowledge on Acadian Peninsula abandoned peatlands soils and gives information about the conditions of their agro-economic, ecological and/or environmental management.展开更多
文摘In the northeast region of New Brunswick, the majority of peatlands are mainly used for horticultural purposes. Abandoned peatlands after peat extraction could represent one of the most important ecological resources through their remaining substrates： serving as agronomic, ecological or environmental value-added support to local development; and giving a second economic life to peatlands. To evaluate this innovative peat soil management, a study was conducted on three residual peatlands from the Acadian Peninsula. Their status was described through a physic-chemical characterization. The results suggest that the peat thickness and the mineral horizon characteristics are good indicators to identify these post-harvest peat soils. The studied sites were characterized by a flat topography, poor and unequal drainage inducing a variation of the water table level. The peat thickness ranged from 18 cm to 40 cm, while the thickness of the mineral horizon--mostly sandy--ranged between 20 cm and 30 cm. The chemical properties revealed an electrical conductivity above 50 μS·cm^-1, an acid pH, and a variable cation exchange capacity （1.3 cmolc·kg^-1 to 11.4 cmolc·kg^-1）. This preliminary study gives basic knowledge on Acadian Peninsula abandoned peatlands soils and gives information about the conditions of their agro-economic, ecological and/or environmental management.
