The proper monitoring of soil moisture content is important to understand water-related processes in peatland ecosystems. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is a popular method used for soil moisture content measurements, the applicability of which is still challenging in field studies due to requirements regarding the calibration curve which converts the dielectric constant into the soil moisture content. The main objective of this study was to develop a general calibration equation for the TDR method based on simultaneous field measurements of the dielectric constant and gravimetric water content in the surface layers of degraded peatlands. Data were collected during field campaigns conducted temporarily between the years 2006 and 2016 at the drained peatland Kuwasy located in the north-east area of Poland. Based on the data analysis, a two-slopes linear calibration equation was developed as a general broken-line model (GBLM). A site-specific calibration model (SSM-D) for the TDR method was obtained in the form of a two-slopes equation describing the relationship between the soil moisture content and the dielectric constant and introducing the bioindices as covariates relating to plant species biodiversity and the state of the habitats. The root mean squared error for the GBLM and SSM-D models were equal, respectively, at 0.04 and 0.035 cm³ cm⁻³.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of soil contamination with diesel oil on the early development of three species of the Fabaceae family (Medicago lupulina L., Lotus corniculatus L., Trifolium repens L.). These species have a wide ecological range and they often occur on...

The paper presents the research on the increasing in the floristic diversity of abandoned Arrhenatherion elatioris meadows through the introduction of three dicotyledonous species: Achillea millefolium, Daucus carota and Leucanthemum vulgare and the re-management. They were carried out in the...

The aim of this study was to determine the traits in peculiar species which most influence their survivability during early growth and development. Eight representative plant species typical for four non-afforested habitats of river valleys were tested. The results showed that for the restoration of natural habitats, the following species are best suited: Allium angulosum (Cnidion dubii, 6440) due to its good seed germination capacity and fast growth rate of its seedlings; Galium boreale (Molinion, 6410) due to the fast growth rate of its seedlings; Tragopogon pratensis (Arrhenatherion elatioris, 6510) due to its large seeds, good seed germination capacity and fast growth rate of its seedlings; regarding to tested species of Festuco-Brometea (6210), the obtained results do not give a definite answer.