Investigating peat hydrological properties using field and laboratory methods: application to the Lanoraie peatland complex (southern Quebec, Canada)

Flow dynamics within a peatland are governed by hydraulic parameters such as hydraulic conductivity, dispersivity and specific yield, as well as by anisotropy and heterogeneity. The aim of this study is to investigate hydraulic parameters variability in peat through the use of different field and laboratory methods. An experimental site located in the Lanoraie peatland complex (southern Quebec, Canada) was used to test the different approaches. Slug and bail tests were performed in piezometer standpipes to investigate catotelm hydraulic conductivity. Combined Darcy tests and tracer experiments were conducted on cubic samples using the modified cube method (MCM) to assess catotelm hydraulic conductivity, anisotropy and dispersivity. A new laboratory method is proposed for assessing acrotelm hydraulic conductivity and gravity drainage using a laboratory experimental tank. Most of slug tests' recovery curves were characteristic of compressible media, and important variability was observed depending on the initial head difference. The Darcy experiments on cubic samples provided reproducible results, and anisotropy (K(h) > K(v)) was observed for most of samples. All tracer experiments displayed asymmetrical breakthrough curves, suggesting the presence of retardation and/or dual porosity. Hydraulic conductivity estimates performed using the experimental tank showed K variations over a factor of 44 within the upper 40 cm of the acrotelm. The results demonstrate that the intrinsic variability associated with the different field and laboratory methods is small compared with the spatial variability of hydraulic parameters. It is suggested that a comprehensive assessment of peat hydrological properties can be obtained through the combined use of complementary field and laboratory investigations. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.