| Sphagnum peatlands are threatened at a global scale, not only by peat extraction, but also by Sphagnum harvesting. In Chile, dry Sphagnum moss is mainly exported for use as substrate for horticulture and orchids. Although the use of Sphagnum within Chile is limited, there are no data about its productivity and growth. These peatlands have a special microtopography with hummocks, hollows and lawns, which vary the distance of moss to the water table level. In these ecosystems, the water table is almost all year near the surface. We measured cumulative and relative growth rates and productivity during approximately one annual cycle in private Sphagnum peatlands that are being yearly harvested for commercial purposes. We evaluated the relationship between... |
