THE DETERMINATION OF THE BULK-DENSITY OF PEAT SOILS

The dry bulk density of peat can be calculated from the particle densi ty and water content of the peat. Raised bog peat and fen peat, on ave rage, have a particle density of about 1600 g/l. In late summer the po res of the peat usually contain 80 % to 90 % water. Using these figure s, the dry bulk density can be calculated from the dry matter (see equ ation 8). The differences between the calculated and empirical values are about 11 %. An analysis of 330 peat soils of the Institute of Soil Technology shows that it is easier to use the following equation: rho (t) (g/l) = 10 . TM - 7.2, where rho(t) is the dry bulk density (in g/ l) and TM = dry matter (%). Sufficiently exact dry bulk density values can be obtained with this equation. It has been tested only on peat f rom northwestern Germany and is valid up to a dry matter of less than 60 %.