TESTING AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH FOR SUSTAINABLE REWETTING OF FENS

摘要

Fen soil profiles in lysimeters with a reed population have been rewetted for restoration by use of purified municipal waste water as an alternative approach in supplying sufficient water for peatland rewetting. The reuse of waste water realises water surplus, which is urgently required for stopping peatland degradation as water balances show, and could go for a potential retention of nutrients due to the natural function of peatlands serving as sinks. Nutrient balances have not shown any additional risk by higher nutrient loads due to waste water use for rewetting in the discharge yet. The study on gas fluxes demonstrates a contribution to the greenhouse effect either by CO_2 in drained fens or by CH_4 in rewetted fen soil lysimeters.