peat
Sign in to savethumb|A lump of peat thumb|Peat stacks in Südmoslesfehn (Oldenburg (district)|district of Oldenburg, Germany) in 2013 thumb|Peat gatherers at Westhay, [[Somerset Levels in 1905]] thumb|Peat extraction in East Frisia, Germany in 1987
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Peat is a dark, carbon-rich material that forms from partially decomposed plant matter in wet environments like bogs and marshes. It has been historically harvested as a fuel source and remains important for horticulture and energy production, though its extraction raises environmental concerns due to its role in storing carbon and supporting unique ecosystems.
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Article
39 sectionsContents
- Formation
- Types of peat material
- Peatlands distribution
- General uses
- Fuel
- Agriculture
- Drinking water
- Metallurgy
- Flood mitigation
- Freshwater aquaria
- Balneotherapy
- Peat archives
- Bog bodies
- Environmental and ecological issues
- Peat drainage
- {{anchor|Fires|Peat Fires}} Peat fires
- Erosion: Peat hags
- Protection
- Restoration
- Characteristics and uses by nation
- Latvia
- Finland
- Sweden
- Ireland
- Russia
- Netherlands
- Estonia
- India
- Sikkim
- United Kingdom
- England
- Northern Ireland
- Scotland
- Wales
- Canada
- See also
- Notes
- References
- External links
thumb|A lump of peat thumb|Peat stacks in Südmoslesfehn (Oldenburg (district)|district of Oldenburg, Germany) in 2013 thumb|Peat gatherers at Westhay, [[Somerset Levels in 1905]] thumb|Peat extraction in East Frisia, Germany in 1987
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. Sphagnum moss, also called peat moss, is one of the most common components in peat, although many other plants can contribute. The biological features of sphagnum mosses act to create a habitat aiding peat formation, a phenomenon termed 'habitat manipulation'. Soils consisting primarily of peat are known as histosols. Peat forms in wetland conditions, where flooding or stagnant water obstructs the flow of oxygen from the atmosphere, slowing the rate of decomposition. Peat properties such as organic matter content and saturated hydraulic conductivity can exhibit high spatial heterogeneity.