AFTER-USE PREDICTIONS FOR FINNISH CUT-OVER PEATLANDS - BASED ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF UNDER-LYING MINERAL SOILS

摘要

Peat harvesting sites in Finland are being utilised almost completely because of the high energy content of the basal peat layers. In this situation the properties of the under-laying mineral soil have a strong influence on the after-use possibilities of each peat production site. The bottom soils of 9800 ha of peat production areas in different parts of Finland were studied to learn about these properties. 15 % of mire bottoms are unsuitable for agriculture or forestation because of very coarse bottom sediments. 24 % of mire bottoms have very compact bottom soils. For these areas bog restoration is a probable after-use form. 4/5 of this "uneconomical" area is also suitable for artificial lakes in the lowest parts of the topography - but the remaining 1/5 is not due to the chemical composition of the under-lying mineral soil. More than half of mire bottoms do not have fundamental limitations related to after-use form -judged by the physical and chemical features of the sediment under the peat layer. The distribution of the after-use forms affecting the carbon balance is discussed in this article.