The micromorphology of selected Irish milled peats

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 222; no. 1/2; pp. 15 - 23
• Main Authors: Mooney, S.J., Holden, N.M., Ward, S.M., Collins, J.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Kluwer Academic Publishers 01.01.2000; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Amorphous materials; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Bogs; Chemical composition; Composite particles; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Image analysis; Moisture content; Morphology; Mosses; Peat; Peat soils; Physical properties; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Pore size; Porosity; Porous media; Soil micromorphology; Soil science; Structure, texture, density, mechanical behavior. Heat and gas exchanges; Water flow; Wood. Peat. Brown coal; Europe; Ireland; Particle size; Porous medium; Grinding(comminution); Peat; Growing media; Substrate; Hydrodynamic properties; Pore size; Fuel; Water absorption; Rewetting; Structure; Micromorphology
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1023/a:1004709726449

The movement of water in milled peat is of importance to the peat industry particularly in terms of rewetting. Considering the importance of structure with regard to water flow, micromorphology was used to obtain information regarding the nature of milled peat as a porous medium in a manner not available by other means. Peat was sampled from the undisturbed surface of two bogs (raised and fen origin) and from milled peat stockpiles. Thin sections were prepared to describe the nature of the two peat materials (milled and unmilled) in terms of the particle / pore properties and composition. Image analysis and point counting techniques were used to quantify results wherever possible. Although overall macro-porosity was similar for the two stockpiles, particle and pore size distributions varied considerably. Variations arose from the nature of the peat type and its interaction with milling operations with results suggesting that smaller pore sizes relate to a greater propensity to rewet.