PALUDICULTURE
Paludiculture is a form of nature inclusive agriculture, specifically wet agriculture and forestry on peatlands. Paludiculture combines the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from drained peatlands through rewetting with continued land use and biomass production under wet conditions. “Paludi” comes from the Latin “palus” meaning “swamp, morass” and "paludiculture" as a concept was developed at Greifswald University, Germany. Paludiculture is a sustainable alternative to drainage-based agriculture, intended to maintain carbon storage in peatlands. This differentiates paludiculture from agriculture like rice paddies, which involve draining, and therefore degrading wetlands.
Vast areas of agricultural peatlands in NWE are used for intensive meat and dairy production. This business model only works when the (peat)soils are continuously drained. Drained peatlands emit large amounts of CO2. Stopping drainage and raising the water table reduces CO2 emissions, but at the same time increases the emission of methane. Methane is a short lived, but strong GHG so its effect is time dependent. The graph below shows that, although methane emission may increase in the short term after rewetting, the reduction of net GHG emissions from peatlands can only be achieved if we rewet all drained peatlands as fast as possible (Günther et al., 2020).
This means that farmers and landowners have to change their business model from a mass production of meat and dairy to cultivation of crop species that thrive under wet conditions. These wetland crops are referred to as "paludicrops".
The list below gives access to detailed information concerning the cultivation of these crops and what kind of applications exist for their biomass. If available, information on market opportunities, data on economic value, and potential GHG emission reductions are presented (click on the name of the crop).
Sphagnum or peat moss is mainly found in swampy areas and on peat soils. Peat moss can retain water well, up to 16-26 times its dry weight. Peat moss is capable of forming new peat and is widely used in the restoration of degraded peatland sites. Peat moss can also play a future role as a source material for peat-free growing media. Peat moss cultivation has the highest potential of all paludicrops for GHG reduction as CO2 is captured in newly formed biomass, and methane emissions remain low. Find out more about peat moss here.
Reed (Phragmites australis) belongs to the grass family (Poaceae) and is a perennial wetland plant. Reeds can grow 1-3 m high in the water or at the water's edge on wet, sweet or brackish soil and can often be found along field edges and in swampy areas. Reed preserves existing peat and can even form new peat if managed correctly. Reed biomass can be used as a building material and for thermal insulation. Paludiculture with reed provides a large GHG reduction as carbon-dioxide is captured in newly formed biomass, some methane is emitted which slightly offsets the GHG reduction. Find out more about reed here.
Cattail (Typha) is a genus of tall perennial marsh plants which consist of a strong, starchy rhizome and stiff upwards growing tapered leaves, reaching between 1.5 and 3 metres. Cattail grows in water levels of 0-40 cm and is therefore suitable to be grown in degraded and rewetted fens. Cattail preserves existing peat but is not capable of forming new peat. Cattail biomass can be used for building material. thermal insulation and bioenergy. Cattail paludiculture provides GHG reduction through carbon capture in new biomass but also emits methane. Find out more about Typha here.
There is potential for peatlands to grow a variety of different plants with possibly high-value applications such as azolla or calamus, however, these business models are not developed for application on an operational scale so far. Find out more. Peatlands can also be used for growing different types of berries and herbs such as cranberry, blueberry, cloud-berry or water mint. Click here to find out more about these plants and their applications.
Webinar - Sustainable Farming for Peatlands
In this second session of the Sustainable Farming for Peatlands conference, we discussed the many innovative economic models of paludiculture with the actors of the Carbon Connects project, but also with Harry Mach from the CANAPE project and Aldert van Weeren, expert and pioneer in paludiculture.
Gert-Jan van Duinen from Radboud University and Aa& Maas Waterboard talked about paludiculture in climate robuste landscape during the second session of the webinar "Sustanaible Farming for Peatlands" on 21 December 2021.