A database and synthesis of northern peatland soil properties and Holocene carbon and nitrogen accumulation

Here, we present results from the most comprehensive compilation of Holocene peat soil properties with associated carbon and nitrogen accumulation rates for northern peatlands. Our database consists of 268 peat cores from 215 sites located north of 45°N. It encompasses regions within which peat carbon data have only recently become available, such as the West Siberia Lowlands, the Hudson Bay Lowlands, Kamchatka in Far East Russia, and the Tibetan Plateau. For all northern peatlands, carbon content in organic matter was estimated at 42 ± 3% (standard deviation) for Sphagnum peat, 51 ± 2% for non- Sphagnum peat, and at 49 ± 2% overall. Dry bulk density averaged 0.12 ± 0.07 g/cm 3 , organic matter bulk density…

• SR
  Sight Research UK

  Awards: NE/G020272/1, NE/I012915/1, NE/G019851/1
• NE
  Natural Environment Research Council

  Awards: NE/I012915/1, NE/G019851/1, NE/G020272/1