Moss production in a boreal, forestry-drained peatland

We studied the growth and biomass production of moss species typical of boreal pine-dominated drained peatland forests to evaluate their role in the carbon cycle of such sites. Both height growth and biomass production were higher at mesotrophic than ombrotrophic site, while biomass estimates did not show distinct difference between sites. Variation in production within each dominant species was considerable. A simulation with our production values and published estimates of decomposition rates showed that these species have the potential to contribute significantly to soil carbon storage in drained peatlands.