Soil Redox Potential and its Impact on Microorganisms and Plants of Wetlands

Although peatlands cover only 3% of the Earth’s surface, they constitute a huge reservoir of carbon. It is estimated that they accumulate one third of carbon contained in all types of soils worldwide. Therefore, knowledge of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of peat is important for prevention of peat degradation and release of carbon stored as CO₂ into the atmosphere. In organic soils, water plays a very important role as a protective factor against mineralisation of organic matter. Therefore, organic soils are characterised by high specificity and dissimilarity from mineral soils. The hydrological factor induces a variety of changes in the physical and chemical properties, e.g. low redox potential or low oxygen content in soil pores. Many soil processes are determined by the soil oxygenation status, which can be measured with various indicators as well as direct and indirect measurements. One of the indirect methods is measurement of the redox potential. The oxidation-reduction potential (redox potential or Eh) is a measure of the ratio of oxidised to reduced forms in a solution. This parameter is inextricably linked to oxygen supply and the processes of consumption thereof by microorganisms and plant roots. Therefore, the redox potential is used as an indicator of the oxygenation status and the content of biogenic forms and toxins in the soil environment and sediments. In the case of submerged soils, penetration of atmospheric oxygen into the soil is limited due to low rates of oxygen diffusion and, hence, low redox potential, which inhibits plant growth through inhibition of respiration and production of toxins in reducing conditions. The aim of this article is (1) to the show soil-plant-soil microorganism interactions taking place on peatbogs in the context of redox potential, (2) to investigate the responses of plants and soil microorganisms to the changing redox potential, and (3) to demonstrate the mechanisms of plant adaptation to the reducing conditions prevailing in peatbogs.