Assessing soil compaction on blanket bog

This research paper evaluates the physical impacts of cutting versus burning management practices on blanket bog peatlands in the North of England, specifically focusing on soil compaction and micro-topography in the context of red grouse moor management.

• The study found that the use of heavy machinery for cutting did not result in lasting plot-level impacts on peat depth or bulk density, indicating the peat showed resilience despite expectations of compaction.
• Cutting management reduced plot micro-topography by approximately 2 cm, primarily because the process removed the tops of hummocks; in contrast, burnt plots showed no difference from uncut plots.
• While cutting is proposed as a viable alternative to burning on grouse moors, the authors note that compaction may be site-specific based on peat nature and machinery, and that cutting height or equipment may need adjustment if preserving micro-topography is a priority.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2019). Assessing soil compaction on blanket bog. https://www.sei.org/publications/assessing-soil-compaction-on-blanket-bog/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Assessing soil compaction on blanket bog. 2019. https://www.sei.org/publications/assessing-soil-compaction-on-blanket-bog/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Assessing soil compaction on blanket bog |date=18 July 2019 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/assessing-soil-compaction-on-blanket-bog/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2019assessing, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Assessing soil compaction on blanket bog}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2019}, month = jul, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/assessing-soil-compaction-on-blanket-bog/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }