Carbon Losses from Topsoil in Abandoned Peat Extraction Sites Due to Ground Subsidence and Erosion

Raitis Normunds Meļņiks (), Arta Bārdule, Aldis Butlers, Jordane Champion, Santa Kalēja, Ilona Skranda, Guna Petaja and Andis Lazdiņš
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Raitis Normunds Meļņiks: Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’ (LSFRI Silava), Rigas Str. 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Arta Bārdule: Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’ (LSFRI Silava), Rigas Str. 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Aldis Butlers: Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’ (LSFRI Silava), Rigas Str. 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Jordane Champion: Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’ (LSFRI Silava), Rigas Str. 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Santa Kalēja: Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’ (LSFRI Silava), Rigas Str. 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Ilona Skranda: Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’ (LSFRI Silava), Rigas Str. 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Guna Petaja: Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’ (LSFRI Silava), Rigas Str. 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Andis Lazdiņš: Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’ (LSFRI Silava), Rigas Str. 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: Peat erosion has a significant impact on soil fertility, agricultural productivity, and climate change dynamics. Through this process, the topsoil rich in organic matter and carbon (C) is removed and can travel long distances, causing a net C loss. Additionally, peat undergoes oxidation, resulting in further C loss. In our study, we evaluated C losses from 11 peat extraction fields in two study sites, abandoned for more than 15 years and overgrown by vegetation of different densities. We used high-resolution airborne laser scanning point clouds and multispectral aerial images acquired periodically within a 9-year period, as well as chemical analyses of the topsoil layer. In our study, we found a strong correlation between peat subsidence, C loss, and the vegetation density (NDVI value). NDVI also determines most of the uncertainty in elevation data. We found also that both erosion and peat subsidence are significant sources of C losses from peat extraction sites. At a site monitored for over 9 years, our estimated ground elevation changes ranged from 0.1 cm y −1 to 0.58 cm y −1 ; however, at a different site monitored over a 4-year period, the values ranged from 2.14 cm y −1 to 5.72 cm y −1 . Accordingly, the mean annual C losses varied from 0.06 to 0.22 kg C m −2 y −1 and from 1.21 to 3.57 kg C m −2 y −1 .

Keywords: elevation change; soil carbon; LiDAR; peatlands (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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