peat

peat soil material consisting of partially decomposed organic matter; found in swamps and bogs in various parts of the temperate zone. It is formed by the slow decay of successive layers of aquatic and semiaquatic plants, e.g., sedges, reeds, rushes, and mosses. One of the principal types of peat is moss peat, derived primarily from sphagnum moss; it is used in agriculture as poultry and stable litters as well as a mulch, a soil conditioner, and an acidifying agent; it is also used in industry as an insulating material. Another type of peat is fuel peat, which is most widely used in regions where coal and wood are scarce, e.g., Ireland, Scandinavia, and parts of Russia. Peat is the earliest stage of transition from compressed plant growth to the formation of coal. Large deposits of peat in the United States are found in Michigan, California, and the Florida Everglades.

peat An organic soil or deposit; in Britain, a soil with an O horizon at least 40 cm thick. Peat formation occurs when decomposition is slow owing to anaerobic conditions associated with waterlogging. Decomposition of cellulose and hemicellulose is particularly slow for Sphagnum plants, which are characteristic of such sites, and hence among the principal peat-forming plants. Fen and bog peats differ considerably. In fen peats the presence of calcium in the groundwater neutralizes acidity, often leading to the disappearance of plant structure, giving a black, structureless peat. Bog peats, formed in much more acidic waters, vary according to the main plants involved. Species identification of constituents (including those of animals as well as of plants) remains possible after long periods. Recent bog-moss (Sphagnum) peat is light in colour, with the structure of the mosses perfectly preserved.

peat An organic soil or deposit; in Britain, a soil with an O horizon at least 40 cm thick. Peat formation occurs when decomposition is slow owing to anaerobic conditions associated with waterlogging. Decomposition of cellulose and hemicellulose is particularly slow for Sphagnum plants, which are characteristic of such sites, and hence are among the principal peat-forming plants. Fen and bog peats differ considerably. In fen peats the presence of calcium in the ground water neutralizes acidity, often leading to the disappearance of plant structure, giving a black, structureless peat. Bog peats, formed in much more acidic waters, vary according to the main plants involved. Species identification of constituents (including those of animals as well as of plants) remains possible after long periods. Recent bog-moss (Sphagnum) peat is light in colour, with the structure of the mosses perfectly preserved.