CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE PEAT BOGS OF THE MARITIME PROVINCES

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Abstract
The proximate chemical composition of seven peat bogs in the Maritime Provinces has been determined. The results have been expressed as profiles in relation to depth and as over-all averages for each bog.The acidity tended to be high at pH 3.9–4.8; the moisture content was 90–95 per cent; the total ash was low at 0.5–3 per cent of which about 14 per cent was CaO, 0.85 per cent K2O, and 2.7 per cent P2O5. Of the organic constituents the fraction containing waxes and resins averaged about 7 per cent of the dry matter in most bogs. The total nitrogen was less than 1 per cent. Hemicelluloses and other substances soluble in hot dilute HCl constituted 32–42 per cent of the dry matter and humic substances 28–34 per cent.The process of humification was indicated by a decrease in cellulose, hemicelluloses and gums, and an increase in humic substances, waxes and resins.

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