(rather than adsorbing nutrients). Thus, the main function of peat matter is to support
plants physically.
Water: In peatland water, nutrient and oxygen levels are severely limited.
1. Peatland water mainly comes from rain; the nutrient levels in peat water are very
low, and nutrients leach gradually due to rainfall (pH 5.6, acidic).
2. The oxygen solubility in peat water is extremely low. Therefore, plant roots
cannot absorb nutrients because the nutrient absorption process depends on
respiratory energy, which requires an O 2 supply from outside the roots. Additionally, nodulation and N 2 fixation in legume plants strongly depend on oxygen
supply.
What are the growth strategies of native plants in tropical peatlands under nutrient
and oxygen-limited conditions?
Oxygen absorption strategies: Two strategies for oxygen absorption are observed
in native peatland forests:
1. Aerial root formation: Oxygen absorption from the air
2. Mound root formation: Oxygen absorption from the air and nutrient absorption
from litter that accumulates on root mounds.
Nutrient uptake strategies: Two strategies for nutrient uptake are observed in
native peatland forests:
1. Nutrient recycling from litter on peatland surfaces
2. N 2 fixation by free-living N 2 -fixing bacteria in the rhizosphere (mainly the aerial
root rhizosphere)
Thus, tropical peatlands are extremely limited by their oxygen (low solubility in
water) and nutrient levels; however, forest productivity is extremely high in native
peatlands. In this chapter, the unique eco-physiological strategies of peatland plants
are first described at the basic metabolic level. Then, a new concept for the innovative eco-management of tropical peatlands on a large scale is proposed.
Keywords AeroHydro culture · Plant growth promotion (PGP) · Land surface
management · Nutrient cycling · N 2 fixation
1.1 Introduction
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) workshop was held on 24–25 October 2013 in Bonn, Germany, and focused on “Technical and scientific aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by
other agenda items under the Convention.” The report from this workshop and the
presentations are available at “Report on the workshop on technical and scientific
aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by other agenda items
under the Convention.” In the session summary on “Current scientific and technical
knowledge of high carbon content ecosystems,” the World Conservation Monitoring
4
M. Osaki et al.
plants physically.
Water: In peatland water, nutrient and oxygen levels are severely limited.
1. Peatland water mainly comes from rain; the nutrient levels in peat water are very
low, and nutrients leach gradually due to rainfall (pH 5.6, acidic).
2. The oxygen solubility in peat water is extremely low. Therefore, plant roots
cannot absorb nutrients because the nutrient absorption process depends on
respiratory energy, which requires an O 2 supply from outside the roots. Additionally, nodulation and N 2 fixation in legume plants strongly depend on oxygen
supply.
What are the growth strategies of native plants in tropical peatlands under nutrient
and oxygen-limited conditions?
Oxygen absorption strategies: Two strategies for oxygen absorption are observed
in native peatland forests:
1. Aerial root formation: Oxygen absorption from the air
2. Mound root formation: Oxygen absorption from the air and nutrient absorption
from litter that accumulates on root mounds.
Nutrient uptake strategies: Two strategies for nutrient uptake are observed in
native peatland forests:
1. Nutrient recycling from litter on peatland surfaces
2. N 2 fixation by free-living N 2 -fixing bacteria in the rhizosphere (mainly the aerial
root rhizosphere)
Thus, tropical peatlands are extremely limited by their oxygen (low solubility in
water) and nutrient levels; however, forest productivity is extremely high in native
peatlands. In this chapter, the unique eco-physiological strategies of peatland plants
are first described at the basic metabolic level. Then, a new concept for the innovative eco-management of tropical peatlands on a large scale is proposed.
Keywords AeroHydro culture · Plant growth promotion (PGP) · Land surface
management · Nutrient cycling · N 2 fixation
1.1 Introduction
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) workshop was held on 24–25 October 2013 in Bonn, Germany, and focused on “Technical and scientific aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by
other agenda items under the Convention.” The report from this workshop and the
presentations are available at “Report on the workshop on technical and scientific
aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by other agenda items
under the Convention.” In the session summary on “Current scientific and technical
knowledge of high carbon content ecosystems,” the World Conservation Monitoring
4
M. Osaki et al.