Organic Soils: Peat

Question 1

It is a type of soil made up of waterlogged partially-decomposed plant material including sphagnum moss and other acid-loving plants, which has built up over something like 10000 years in poorly-drained wetland habitat.

Answer 1

Peat

In Geotechnical soil content greater than 20% are known as organic soil while peat has organic content of more than 75%. To a soil scientists peat is an organic soil with greater than 35% organic content

Peat acts as a carbon store and is a great habitat for wildlife

Question 2

It is the remains of dead plants, animals and microbes

Answer 2

Soil organic matter

•Usually dark brown or black.
•normal soils contain 1-6% organic matter
•but peat has more than 60%

Question 3

Peat moss is acidic what is the pH level of eat moss?

Answer 3

4.4

Question 4

What characteristics is peat known for?

Answer 4

Low shear strength and high compressibility characteristics