10th Junior Eco - Expert Project
Final Report - Group 2
Leader of the group: Ing Milan Bumerl, CSc.
2nd June 2008 Inspection of the Marshes of Borkovice
1.1. Monitoring of the impact of peat bog dehydration for the purpose of the
exploitation on the ground cover composition.
In dehydrated exploited areas we observed natural seeding of non-peaty plant species
(birch, Scots pine, buckthorn, nettle, etc.). On the surfaces that were purged of unoriginal
species, the recovery of peaty flora was to be seen (bog bilberry, fen berry, wild rosemary,
slender cotton grass, Swiss mountain pine etc.). Part of the areas was used for agriculture
in the past for peat growing. Lime treatment and fertilizing of the areas predecessed it.
After several years, the areas were used for growing of Swiss mountain pine seedlings,
and after that, the areas were left fallow. These areas with modified pH and recovered
content of nutrients, are perfect place for growth of invasive unoriginal plant species.
Especially nettles, and the natural seedings of silver birch.
Taking samples of peat
In chosen areas (once in reservation, twice in exploited places), the samples of peat were
taken by a soil sampler. They were consequently examined in lab. It was found out, that
the thickness of the peat is five meters in the reservation, in exploited places we found
mineral subsoil four meters thick.
1.3. Monitoring of aquatic system of the marshland
The area of the marshland of Borkovice is a plentiful source of high quality of drinking
water. This is why there are observation wells in the whole area, which are continuously
monitored. The procedure of water level measuring of subterranean water in the drillholes
by using a hydrological pipe was demonstrated.
1.4. Recultivation of marshland
Adjustement of water regime was performed by damming up of drainage channels. As a
result of that, the continual restraint of water occured, raising the level of subterranean
water, and its spilage in caverns and the creation of lakes.The non-peaty vegetation dies
out, the aquatic avifauna comes back, and the ambiguous organisms proliferate in such
resevoires. Simultaniously, the original flora gets restored.
3rd June 2008 Inspection of the Rašelina Soběslav factory
We visited this factory which deals with exploitation and treating of peat. The peat
exploitation in the area of marshland of Borkovice was banned before 1980. In the meantime,
peat is imported to Soběslav from other localities in the Czech Republic, or from Lithuania or
Belorussia. Peat as an replaceable natural resource is substituted by other materials, like lake
sediments, crushed bark, etc., for the purpose of production of gardening substrates. We were
familiarized with various products, organization of their own production line, and possibilities
of how to reclaim the exploited land.
1
3rd June 2008 to 4th June 2008
Laboratory analyses
Analyses of the subtracted samples of peat were carried out in the school lab. Students
determined pH, ash material, amounts of basic nutrients (N,P,K) in water and KCl solution.
The analyses were carried out in accord with methodics used in the Czech Republic.
1. Assessment of pH/H20 and pH/KCl
We have weighed amount of peat equal to 7 gramms of dry matter: twice to PET bottles and
the water was added to make total size of 150 milliliters. (Sample A for assessing pH/H20),
for the second sample we added 50 mililiters of KCl solution in concentration of 2 mol l-1 and
filled with water to make the total size of 150 mililiters. (Sample B for assessing pH/KCl).
After 40 minutes of shaking, the pH was measured (Chart 1).
Chart 1: Computing of weighed material for assessing pH
sample
dry matter
%
sample
A
weight of ml of
peat [g] water
sample B
ml of KCl
solution ml of H2O
[g]
ml
ml
ml
1
24,3
29,4
129
50
79
2
16,7
42,9
119
50
69
3
11,8
60,7
107
50
57
4
11,0
65,0
104
50
54
5
13,4
53,2
112
50
62
6
23,0
31,1
128
50
78
7
13,8
51,6
113
50
63
8
12,9
55,2
111
50
61
9
13,7
52,0
113
50
63
10
10,1
71,0
99
50
49
2
12
30,0
23,8
133
50
83
13
25,2
28,3
130
50
80
14
18,1
39,4
122
50
72
15
14,5
49,4
115
50
65
16
14,1
50,5
114
50
64
17
11,5
62,1
106
50
56
18
87,8
8,1
144
50
94
19
39,2
18,2
137
50
87
20
8,4
84,7
90
50
40
2. Determining of ash material
Dried out sample was weighed into ignition crucibles and calcinated at the temperatures of
550 degrees Celsius to constant weight.
3. Assesssing of nutrients
Basic nutrients were assessed in Gohler leach ( 33 grams of sodium acetate, 150 ml of
concentrated acetatic acid, and refilled by water up to the total of 5 liters).20 grams of sample
in PET bottle was filled with 250 ml of Gohler solution and shaked for 45 minutes. After that,
the solution was filtered and the nutrients were determined in the filtrate. Nitrogen as NH4+
photometrically with Nessler´s agent , P as PO43- photometrically as phosphomolybden blue
and K flame photometry.
Determination of P
10 ml of the sample was dilluted into 50 ml graduated flask, 2 ml of the molybdate solution
was added as well as 1 ml of the solution of SnCl2.
After 10 minutes we measured the sample on the photometer at 660 nm wave length.
30,974
P= X ------------- * 5
94,971
[mg/100 g of soil]
Determination of N
We added 5 drops of the tartrate solution into 25 ml of sample of the basic solution and 1 ml
of Nessler´s solution was added. We measured on the HACH photometr, method 380.
3
WARNING! Nessler´s solution contains mercury, the waste of this work has to be put into a
special container.
Determination of K
K is measured by flame photometr in the basic solution.
Results and conclusions:
1. Results of the analyses: from the chart 2 we can see that the Marshland Borkovická
Blata is quite homogenous with expectable content. It is of high bog type to transient
type, with low content of minerals (chart 2).
2. Comparison: to compare the peat with imported samples is problematic. It is a bit
different type of sample, sample 18 is mineral soil, 19 is compost soil, and sample 20
is a modified substrate.
3. Supplies of peat: thickness of peat layer in the area of Marshland of Borkovice is at
least 4 to 5 meters.
4. Raw material: peat is highly valuable raw material, and that is why it is important to
save it and in practice try to substitute it with other materials (being practised in all
partner countries).
5. Water regime of the landscape: dehydration of exploited areas is a great intrusion into
water regime of the landscape. Peat types with high content of sulphur are oxidated
after dehydration, and their pH decreases.
6. Marshland biotopes: exploited and dehydrated peatlands are becoming localities,
residuated by unoriginal species, peaty biotopes extinct.
7. Recultivation: In recultivation of exploited areas, it is suitable to raise the water level
at least in part of the exploited marshland, for example by damming of drainage
channels. By flooding of the areas, the natural seeding of trees, shrubs and plants are
pushed away and the original organisms – plants, ambiguous organisms, avifauna and
so on, will get recovered. This recovery is fast, takes several years.
8. Problematics of marshland in other countries: Poland has greater supplies of peat in all
partner lands. In Hungary and Austria there is minimal area of marshlands. They are
rather localities like waterlogged organo-mineral soils, especially in alluvial plains of
rivers that are minimally used in agriculture or industry. Both those countries import
gardening substrates or peat as a part of their content substituted by different materials
(industrial composts, sediments from reservoires, etc.).
Poland
Peat is exploited in some localities by a company that goes by the name Biovita.
Recultivation of exploited marshlands is carried out by the means of cultivation
activity – growing of vegetables. Other marshlands and wetlands are protected in
accord with Ramsar Convention and in framework of Natura 2000.
Hungary
It does not have important supplies of peat. Peaty soils are located in wetlands. They
are important landscape-creating element, natural reserves protected in accord with
Ramsar Convention and in framework of Natura 2000.
4
Austria
Peat exploitation is minimal. Peaty soils are located in wetlands. They are important
landscape-creating element, natural reserves protected in accord with Ramsar
Convention and in framework of Natura 2000.
Chart 2. Results of analyses
Reserve
On the drainage Exploited area
Soil
Dry
Sample Depth moisture matter pH/H2O pH/KCl
number [cm]
[%]
[%]
Hungary
Austria
Poland
P
K
N
Ash
[%]
1
2
10
50
75,7
83,3
24,3
16,7
4,2
4,6
3,2
3,9
0,54
0,25
0,7
1,0
0,08
0,03
3,4
3,2
3
4
5
200
300
400
88,2
89,0
86,6
11,8
11,0
13,4
5,4
5,2
5,8
4,2
4,5
4,3
0,29
0,02
0,21
1,1
1,0
1,1
0,04
0,33
0,10
3,5
3,7
4,5
6
7
8
9
10
10
50
200
300
400
77,0
86,2
87,1
86,3
89,9
23,0
13,8
12,9
13,7
10,1
4,5
4,9
5,5
5,7
5,3
3,7
4,2
4,6
4,7
4,7
0,21
0,16
0,14
0,14
0,49
1,4
0,5
1,8
2,1
4,2
0,06
0,04
0,17
0,08
0,10
4,6
4,6
5,1
7,4
7,4
12
10
13
50
14
100
15
200
16
300
17
400
18
10
19
10
20 substrát
70,0
74,8
81,9
85,5
85,9
88,5
12,2
60,8
91,6
30,0
25,2
18,1
14,5
14,1
11,5
87,8
39,2
8,4
3,7
3,5
3,9
4,1
4,5
4,7
7,6
5,9
6,2
2,7
2,6
3,3
3,5
3,8
3,7
7,2
4,9
6,1
0,90
1,03
0,25
0,42
0,26
0,36
12,30
5,40
85,20
2,5
0,01
2,9
0,00
1,3
0,04
1,6
0,05
2,9
0,10
3,8
0,05
22,9 11,20
9,5
1,25
57,3 125,60
3,4
3,8
5,7
5,7
8,1
8,7
75,8
39,1
23,6
5