%0 Research Notes
%T Thermal conductivity of low-decomposed Sphagnum peat used as growth medium
%A Heiskanen, Juha
%D 2000
%J Suo - Mires and peat
%V 51
%N 1
%U http://suo.fi/article/9787
%X The thermal conductivity of low-decomposed Sphagnum peat, used as a growth medium for container seedling production in tree nurseries, and of a sandy mineral soil was studied using the single thermal probe method in the laboratory. The thermal conductivity of the peat was low and decreased from 0.5 to 0.05 W m-1K-1 when the water content decreased from near saturation to air-dry. In comparison, the thermal conductivity of the sandy soil was much higher, decreasing steeply from 1.5 to 0.5 W m-1K-1 with decreasing water content. Results are in accordance with those reported earlier for similar media. The results suggest markedly weaker and more delayed temperature fluctuations in pure peat media compared with media containing mineral soil, which is in agreement with observations made in tree nurseries.