Short-term Effects of Shallow <i>Sphagnum</i> Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality

Niko Silvan

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15

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Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality

Niko Silvan

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 7, Issue 1)

Received: 5 April 2019 Accepted: 10 June 2019 Published: 27 June 2019

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Abstract

White horticultural peat is proven to be a superior growing medium. It is microbiologically active, it binds nutrients and water significantly due to its favorable cation exchange capacity and porosity. Unfortunately, horticultural peat is a very slowly renewable biomass, and good quality horticultural peat is not so common even in peatland-rich countries. Therefore, good-quality and simultaneously renewable growing media alternatives are needed. A new growing medium introduced in recent years is based on Sphagnum moss biomass. According to our results, shallow Sphagnum moss biomass harvesting extended down to a depth of not over 30 cm did not cause any harmful effects on watercourses during the short-term period after harvesting. On the contrary, it is well-known that traditional peat extraction increases the leaching of suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon and nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus into watercourses located downstream. The leaching of SS, DOC and nutrients from peat extraction areas is a significant local problem, since the nutrient leaching may cause enhanced eutrophication and decreased biodiversity, especially in vulnerable headwaters. Because of the probably negligible harmful effects on the water quality, Sphagnum moss biomass can be considered as a truly environmental-friendly growing medium compared with the conventionally extracted white horticultural peat.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 7, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15
Page(s)	34-39
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Renewable Growing Medium, Sphagnum Mosses, Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting, Water Quality

References

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[5]	Kämäräinen, A., Simojoki, A., Linden, L., Jokinen, K. & Silvan, N. 2018. Physical growing media characteristics of Sphagnum biomass dominated by Sphagnum fuscum (Schimp.) Klinggr. Mires and Peat, 21, 1‒16.
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Niko Silvan. (2019). Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 7(1), 34-39. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15

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ACS Style

Niko Silvan. Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2019, 7(1), 34-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15

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AMA Style

Niko Silvan. Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2019;7(1):34-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15,
  author = {Niko Silvan},
  title = {Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {7},
  number = {1},
  pages = {34-39},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20190701.15},
  abstract = {White horticultural peat is proven to be a superior growing medium. It is microbiologically active, it binds nutrients and water significantly due to its favorable cation exchange capacity and porosity. Unfortunately, horticultural peat is a very slowly renewable biomass, and good quality horticultural peat is not so common even in peatland-rich countries. Therefore, good-quality and simultaneously renewable growing media alternatives are needed. A new growing medium introduced in recent years is based on Sphagnum moss biomass. According to our results, shallow Sphagnum moss biomass harvesting extended down to a depth of not over 30 cm did not cause any harmful effects on watercourses during the short-term period after harvesting. On the contrary, it is well-known that traditional peat extraction increases the leaching of suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon and nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus into watercourses located downstream. The leaching of SS, DOC and nutrients from peat extraction areas is a significant local problem, since the nutrient leaching may cause enhanced eutrophication and decreased biodiversity, especially in vulnerable headwaters. Because of the probably negligible harmful effects on the water quality, Sphagnum moss biomass can be considered as a truly environmental-friendly growing medium compared with the conventionally extracted white horticultural peat.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality
AU  - Niko Silvan
Y1  - 2019/06/27
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 34
EP  - 39
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15
AB  - White horticultural peat is proven to be a superior growing medium. It is microbiologically active, it binds nutrients and water significantly due to its favorable cation exchange capacity and porosity. Unfortunately, horticultural peat is a very slowly renewable biomass, and good quality horticultural peat is not so common even in peatland-rich countries. Therefore, good-quality and simultaneously renewable growing media alternatives are needed. A new growing medium introduced in recent years is based on Sphagnum moss biomass. According to our results, shallow Sphagnum moss biomass harvesting extended down to a depth of not over 30 cm did not cause any harmful effects on watercourses during the short-term period after harvesting. On the contrary, it is well-known that traditional peat extraction increases the leaching of suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon and nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus into watercourses located downstream. The leaching of SS, DOC and nutrients from peat extraction areas is a significant local problem, since the nutrient leaching may cause enhanced eutrophication and decreased biodiversity, especially in vulnerable headwaters. Because of the probably negligible harmful effects on the water quality, Sphagnum moss biomass can be considered as a truly environmental-friendly growing medium compared with the conventionally extracted white horticultural peat.
VL  - 7
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Niko Silvan

Department of Bio-based Business and Industry, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Parkano, Finland

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APA Style

Niko Silvan. (2019). Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 7(1), 34-39. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15

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ACS Style

Niko Silvan. Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2019, 7(1), 34-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15

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AMA Style

Niko Silvan. Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2019;7(1):34-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15,
  author = {Niko Silvan},
  title = {Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {7},
  number = {1},
  pages = {34-39},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20190701.15},
  abstract = {White horticultural peat is proven to be a superior growing medium. It is microbiologically active, it binds nutrients and water significantly due to its favorable cation exchange capacity and porosity. Unfortunately, horticultural peat is a very slowly renewable biomass, and good quality horticultural peat is not so common even in peatland-rich countries. Therefore, good-quality and simultaneously renewable growing media alternatives are needed. A new growing medium introduced in recent years is based on Sphagnum moss biomass. According to our results, shallow Sphagnum moss biomass harvesting extended down to a depth of not over 30 cm did not cause any harmful effects on watercourses during the short-term period after harvesting. On the contrary, it is well-known that traditional peat extraction increases the leaching of suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon and nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus into watercourses located downstream. The leaching of SS, DOC and nutrients from peat extraction areas is a significant local problem, since the nutrient leaching may cause enhanced eutrophication and decreased biodiversity, especially in vulnerable headwaters. Because of the probably negligible harmful effects on the water quality, Sphagnum moss biomass can be considered as a truly environmental-friendly growing medium compared with the conventionally extracted white horticultural peat.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Short-term Effects of Shallow Sphagnum Moss Biomass Harvesting on the Runoff Water Quality
AU  - Niko Silvan
Y1  - 2019/06/27
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 34
EP  - 39
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.15
AB  - White horticultural peat is proven to be a superior growing medium. It is microbiologically active, it binds nutrients and water significantly due to its favorable cation exchange capacity and porosity. Unfortunately, horticultural peat is a very slowly renewable biomass, and good quality horticultural peat is not so common even in peatland-rich countries. Therefore, good-quality and simultaneously renewable growing media alternatives are needed. A new growing medium introduced in recent years is based on Sphagnum moss biomass. According to our results, shallow Sphagnum moss biomass harvesting extended down to a depth of not over 30 cm did not cause any harmful effects on watercourses during the short-term period after harvesting. On the contrary, it is well-known that traditional peat extraction increases the leaching of suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon and nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus into watercourses located downstream. The leaching of SS, DOC and nutrients from peat extraction areas is a significant local problem, since the nutrient leaching may cause enhanced eutrophication and decreased biodiversity, especially in vulnerable headwaters. Because of the probably negligible harmful effects on the water quality, Sphagnum moss biomass can be considered as a truly environmental-friendly growing medium compared with the conventionally extracted white horticultural peat.
VL  - 7
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download