Mika Nieminen1, Marjo Palviainen2, Sakari Sarkkola3, Ari Laurén4, Hannu Marttila5, Leena Finér4. 1. Natural Resources Institute Finland, Viikinkaari 4, 00790, Helsinki, Finland. mika.nieminen@luke.fi. 2. Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. 3. Natural Resources Institute Finland, Viikinkaari 4, 00790, Helsinki, Finland. 4. Natural Resources Institute Finland, P.O. Box 68, 80101, Joensuu, Finland. 5. Water Resources and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
Abstract
Drained peatlands are an important source of forest biomass in boreal regions and ditch network maintenance (DNM) operations may be needed to restore the drainage functions of ditches. By reviewing the available literature, as well as utilizing an existing hydrological model and analyzing the characteristics of eroded sediments, we assessed the impacts of DNM on runoff and exports of suspended solids (SS), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P). In general, DNM had minor impact on runoff and dissolved N and P, and it decreased rather than increased DOC exports. To increase the understanding of the hydrochemical impacts of DNM, future research should focus on the characteristics of SS and particulate nutrient exports. A major gap in knowledge is also the very limited regional representativeness of the available studies. High erosion risk in the ditches reaching the mineral soil below peat should be acknowledged when planning mitigation measures.
Drained peatlands are an important source of forest biomass in boreal regions and ditch network maintenance (DNM) opn>erations may be needed to restore the drainage functions of ditches. By reviewing the available literature, as well as utilizing an existing hydrological model and analyzing the characteristics of eroded sediments, we assessed the impn>acts of n>an class="Chemical">DNM on runoff and exports of suspended solids (SS), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P). In general, DNM had minor impact on runoff and dissolved N and P, and it decreased rather than increased DOC exports. To increase the understanding of the hydrochemical impacts of DNM, future research should focus on the characteristics of SS and particulate nutrient exports. A major gap in knowledge is also the very limited regional representativeness of the available studies. High erosion risk in the ditches reaching the mineral soil below peat should be acknowledged when planning mitigation measures.
Entities:
Keywords:
DOC; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Runoff; Suspended solids; Water quality