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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1987 July; 53(7): 1406-1411
Copyright © 1987, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Sulfate Reduction in Peat from a New Jersey Pinelands Cedar Swamp

¹ Division of Pinelands Research, Center for Coastal and Environmental Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, and Department of Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, New Jersey 08102²

ABSTRACT

Microbial sulfate reduction rates in acidic peat from a New Jersey Pine Barrens cedar swamp in 1986 were similar to sulfate reduction rates in freshwater lake sediments. The rates ranged from a low of 1.0 nmol cm^–3 day^–1 in February at 7.5- to 10.0-cm depth to 173.4 nmol cm^–3 day^–1 in July at 5.0- to 7.5-cm depth. The presence of living Sphagnum moss at the surface generally resulted in reduced rates of sulfate reduction. Pore water sulfate concentrations and water table height also apparently affected the sulfate reduction rate. Concentrations of sulfate in pore water were nearly always higher than those in surface water and groundwater, ranging from 26 to 522 µM. The elevated pore water sulfate levels did not result from the evapotranspiratory concentration of infiltrating stream water or groundwater, but probably resulted from oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds, hydrolysis of ester sulfates present in the peat, or both. The total sulfur content of peat that had no living moss at the surface was 164.64 ± 1.5 and 195.8 ± 21.7 µmol g (dry weight)^–1 for peat collected from 2.5 to 5.0 and 7.5 to 10.0 cm, respectively. Organosulfur compounds accounted for 84 to 88% of the total sulfur that was present in the peat. C-bonded sulfur accounted for 91 to 94% of the organic sulfur, with ester sulfate being only a minor constituent. Reduced inorganic sulfur species in peat from 2.5 to 7.5 cm were dominated by H₂S-FeS (68%), while pyritic sulfide was the predominant inorganic sulfur species in the peat from depths of 7.5 to 10.0 cm (75%).

^* Corresponding author.

Contribution no. 1018 of the Center for Coastal and Environmental Studies, Rutgers University.