Restoring sedges and mosses into frost heaving iron fens, San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Published source details Chimner R.A. (2011) Restoring sedges and mosses into frost heaving iron fens, San Juan Mountains, Colorado. Mires and Peat, 8, Article-7.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Directly plant peatland herbs Action Link
	Add mosses to peatland surface Action Link
	Cover peatland with organic mulch (after planting) Action Link

Directly plant peatland herbs

A replicated before-and-after study in 2007–2010 in three degraded fens in Colorado, USA (Chimner 2011) reported that 35–55% of transplanted water sedge Carex aquatilis survived over three years, and that surviving plants had grown. On average, sedge plants had more stems after three years (11 stems/plant) than when planted (2 stems/plant). This result was not tested for statistical significance. Mulching planted sedges significantly increased their survival (mulched: 55%; unmulched: 35%) and growth (mulched: 3–9 stems/plant; unmulched: 1–9 stems/plant). In July 2007, sedges were transplanted into 36 bare peat plots (12 plots/fen). Transplants were rhizomes with stems, dug from natural vegetation. Nine sedges were planted in each plot, approximately 35 cm apart. Eighteen plots (6 plots/fen) were also mulched with straw (immediately) and shredded aspen (after one year). In summer 2010, sedge survival and number of stems were counted.

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
Add mosses to peatland surface

A replicated, before-and-after study in 2007–2010 in three degraded fens in Colorado, USA (Chimner 2011) reported that mosses established in 4 of 12 plots sown with moss fragments, and only when mulched. Before sowing, plots were bare peat. After three years, no moss survived on six plots without mulch. Under mulch, Russow’s bog moss Sphagnum russowii survived in one of three sites (reaching 19% cover) and haircap moss Polytrichum strictum survived in all three sites (reaching 3–11% cover). In July 2007, moss fragments (<1 cm length) were spread onto twelve bare peat plots in each fen. Moss was a mixture of three Sphagnum species and haircap moss. Of the twelve plots, six were mulched with straw (immediately) and shredded aspen (after one year). In summer 2010, moss cover was measured using a pin-drop quadrat.

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
Cover peatland with organic mulch (after planting)

A replicated, paired, controlled, before-and-after study in 2007–2010 in three degraded fens in Colorado, USA (Chimner 2011) found that mulching increased survival and growth of transplanted water sedge Carex aquatilis, and survival of sown moss fragments. For transplanted sedges, survival over three years was higher in mulched plots than in unmulched plots (55 vs 35%). The same was true for growth (30–82 vs 7–81 stems/plot). No moss survived on unmulched plots. Under mulch, Russow’s bogmoss Sphagnum russowii survived in one of three sites reaching 19% cover after three years. Under mulch, haircap moss Polytrichum strictum survived in all three sites reaching 3–11% cover after three years. In July 2007, thirty-six plots were established (in six blocks of six) on bare peat. Twelve plots (two plots/block) received each planting treatment: sedges (18 single stems/plot), mosses (mixed Sphagnum and haircap moss fragments; 4.4 L/plot) or sedges and mosses. Half of the plots were mulched with straw (immediately) and shredded aspen (after one year). The other plots were not mulched. In summer 2010, sedge survival, sedge stem number and moss cover were recorded.

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)