Research projects in progress
Impact of the afforestation of cut-over peatland on the carbon and nitrogen balance of the ecosystem
Project manager: Ülo Mander, University of Tartu
Duration of the project: 2023-2025
RMK funding: EUR 250,000
There are approximately 10,000 hectares of abandoned milled peatlands in Estonia, a quarter of which have been recommended for afforestation. Due to the deficits of phosphorus and potassium in the residual peat, unfavourable microclimate, etc., a large part of the cut-over peatlands remain unvegetated even 30 years later, resulting in high CO2 emissions and increased fire hazard.
The project seeks solutions for cut-over peatland management to maximise carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To this end, the success of afforestation of cut-over peatland with different tree species shall be assessed; greenhouse gas emissions, soil temperature, acidity and moisture content, and the groundwater level will be measured; soil samples will be collected, etc.
In the Nordic countries, nutrient-rich wood ash has been used to promote the growth of vegetation cover in cut-over peatland, as it has been found that a lack of nutrients influences the growth of trees, and not so much late spring frosts, droughts, high summer temperatures on dark peat surfaces, short-term excess water, etc. The effect of wood ash on plant growth will also be tested during the project.
The impact of drainage ditch reconstruction works on water quality in well-drained peatland forests and efficiency of water protection measures to prevent pollution
Project manager: Kuno Kasak from the University of Tartu
Duration of the project: 2022-2025
RMK funding: EUR 150,000
Estonia’s forests are characterised by their high proportion of bog soils and excessively moist mineral soils. In many regions, it is essential for silviculture and forest management to regulate the water regime of the soil and to maintain the functioning of land improvement systems through reconstruction.
To reduce the negative impact of these works on the aquatic environment, water protection measures must be used. One of the most effective solutions for reducing diffuse pollution is vegetated open water constructed wetlands, or filter beds, which, in addition to calming the water flow, support sedimentation and the biological removal of nutrients.
The project will examine how the renovation of drainage ditches in drained peatland forests affects the quality of surface water, and the use of a filter bed and sedimentation pond along with a traditional sedimentation pond will be compared.
The study will be carried out with land improvement systems to be reconstructed in Western Estonia, which are located in Rumba’s drained peatland forests and flow into the Vigala River. A total of eight water protection measures will be established: six as a ‘normal” solution, i.e. as sediment ponds, and two as hybrid systems (a sediment pond with a filter bed).
The usefulness of wintery sanitary cuts and traditional trap trees when controlling European spruce bark beetle damages; condition of the beetles hibernating under the bark of Norway spruce
Project manager: Kristjan Ait, Estonian University of Life Sciences
Duration of the project: 2022-2025
RMK funding: EUR 228,423
The area affected by European spruce bark beetle damage in Estonia has increased in recent years. It may increase further due to the increased frequency of forest disturbances brought on by climate change. For example, the appearance of two generations of bark beetles in one summer has already become commonplace. However, the methods used to manage bark beetle damage have mostly stayed the same in the last hundred years.
The project assesses the success of spring sanitary cuttings in middle-aged and maturing spruce stands along with trap trees, compared to winter sanitary cuttings. In addition, the areas where damage has been left to recede naturally are looked at and compared with the effectiveness of harvester use and manually felled trap trees. The proportion of second-generation individuals hibernating under the spruce bark that are able to survive the winter and the types of predators and parasites found under the spruce bark are also assessed.
Assessment of the effects of the biostimulant ArGrow on pine, spruce and birch trees
Project manager: Reimo Lutter, Estonian University of Life Sciences
Duration of the project: 2021-2024
RMK funding: EUR 84,533
Reforestation aims to renew stands quickly and make forest land carbon-sequestering as quick as possible. Due to the so-called planting shock and the effect of ground cover, planted trees are not competitive, which often means additional planting and intensive maintenance, i.e. increased costs. Nordic practice shows that ArGrow, an environmentally friendly biostimulant based on organic nitrogen, improves the root development of planted trees, resulting in the tree being more competitive in terms of nutrient uptake.
During the project, the impact of the biostimulant on the preservation, height growth and root development of spruce, birch and pine plants will be studied, and damage will be assessed. The root development of model trees and their relationship to above-ground biomass are evaluated in the laboratory. The nutrient and carbon content of the soil and the diversity of ground cover have been described in the selected test areas to assess long-term environmental impacts.
