Wallage, ZE and Holden, J (2011) Near-surface macropore flow and saturated hydraulic conductivity in drained and restored blanket peatlands. Soil Use and Management, 27 (2). 247 - 254. ISSN 0266-0032
Abstract
The impacts of blanket peatland management on water tables, near-surface macropore flow and saturated hydraulic conductivity were investigated using automated dipwells and mini-disc tension infiltrometers. Three neighbouring hillslopes which were undisturbed, drained and restored by drain blocking were studied. Mean water table depths at the undisturbed sites were slightly shallower than at the restored site and water tables at both sites were significantly shallower relative to the drained treatment. Through time, however, the water table at the restored treatment behaved in a markedly different way to that at the undisturbed site. Water tables reached the peat surface for only 2% of the time for the drained and restored treatments compared to 18% for the undisturbed treatment. The proportion of runoff flowing through macropores in the near-surface layers of the peat was found to be large (≥60%) across all three treatments, yet functional macroporosity was found to be significantly greater in the undisturbed peat relative to the two other treatments. Meanwhile, saturated hydraulic conductivity was found to be significantly higher at the restored treatment relative to the two other treatments, with mean conductivities ca. 1.5 times greater, suggesting a form of heightened soil-water interaction. Combined, the results indicate that although restoration by ditch blocking may result in a relatively successful water table recovery, there may not be the full reinstatement of peatland hydrological processes.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2011 The Authors. Journal compilation (c) 2011 British Society of Soil Science. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Soil Use and Management. Uploaded with permission from the publisher. |
Keywords: | peat; macropores; runoff; infiltration; tension infiltrometer; water table |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 29 Jan 2014 15:06 |
Last Modified: | 15 Sep 2014 02:11 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2011.00336.x |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley-Blackwell |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2011.00336.x |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:77454 |