%0 Research Notes
%T From living Sphagnum to peat: a re-analysis of old material collected by A.K. Cajander
%A Lindholm, Tapio
%D 1989
%J Suo - Mires and peat
%V 40
%N 4
%U http://suo.fi/article/9663
%X The peat formation time scale in the acrotelm was evaluated using the rate of burial of the root collars and the tree age of buried Scots pine stems in the surface peat. The data were originally presented, but unanalysed, by A.K. Cajander (1906). During the first 30 years after the germination of pine seed the Sphagnum carpet above the root level increased its thickness without noticeable compression and decomposition. During the following 20-30 years the decomposition increased, but the growth of Sphagnum also decreased. A third phase began after 55-60 years during which the growth of Sphagnum was compensated by decomposition.

Keywords: Acrotelm, peat formation, Sphagnum growth