Glossary (trial version)

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Acid sulphate soil

A soil containing pyrite, which upon oxidation will result in very low pH values.

Acidity

A property of (soil) water characterised by a pH below 7.

Acrotelm

The surface layer of a peatland that is above the limit of permanent saturation. In a little damaged bog it refers to the active layer, comprising the living plant cover, passing onwards into recently died plant material and then into fresh peat. It forms the largely oxygenated surface layer with high hydraulic conductivity, within which the water table fluctuates and the main water movement occurs.

Adat

traditional rights of indigenous peoples

Alluvial plain

A plain bordering a river, formed by the deposition of alluvium eroded from areas of higher elevation.

Aquifer

water bearing strata

Ash content

Weight of a volume of peat after it has been burned.

Available soil water

The quantity of water available to plants, defined as the quantity of water retained in the soil between field capacity and permanent wilting point. Also see plant available water.

This glossary is based up on the published glossary taken from the following publication:

Rieley, J. O. and S. E. Page, (2005), Wise Use of Tropical Peatlands: Focus on Southeast Asia, ALTERRA - Wageningen University and Research Centre and the EU INCO - STRAPEAT and RESTORPEAT Partnerships, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Click here to download a PDF copy of the publication - http://www.restorpeat.alterra.wur.nl/download/WUG.pdf (Filesize: 23.3 Mbytes)