Effect of hydrological restoration on degraded tropical peat carbon fluxes

摘要

Large areas of tropical peat have been drained,resulting in an abrupt change in the carbon sequestration and storing potential.Hydrological restoration by dam construction was made in drainage affected peat swamp forest and deforested burned peat area in Central Kalimantan (Indonesia) in order to slow down water outflow.Peat carbon dioxide fluxes were analyzed both for pre- and post-restoration peat water table level conditions.In forested areas the contribution from autotrophic CO2 production can be high,but oxidation of deposited litter is faster in drainage affected forest than in undrained forest.Restoration of peat hydrology may not instantly affect the reduction of peat CO2 flux rates in forests owing to difficulties in creating near peat surface water table level conditions,and because forest soil results in high autotrophic CO2 production.In open degraded areas near soil surface maintained water table level can potentially reduce CO2 loss from decomposition but carbon loss cannot be stopped until ecosystem C losses are exceeded by vegetation net carbon sequestration.