for paludiculture-Suitable water table and nutrient conditions for potential biomass utilization explored in mesocosm gradient experiments.

Drainage has turned 650,000 km of peatlands worldwide into greenhouse gas sources. To counteract climate change, large-scale rewetting is necessary while agricultural use of rewetted areas, termed paludiculture, is still possible. However, more information is required on the performance of suitable species, such as cattail, in the range of environmental conditions after rewetting. We investigated productivity and biomass quality (morphological traits and tissue chemical composition) of and along gradients of water table depth (-45 to +40 cm) and nutrient addition (3.6-400 kg N ha a) in a six-month mesocosm experiment with an emphasis on their high-value utilization, e.g., as building material, paper, or biodegradable packaging. Over a wide range of investigated conditions, was more productive than . Productivity was remarkably tolerant of low nutrient addition, suggesting that long-term productive paludiculture is possible. Low water tables were beneficial for productivity and high water tables for biomass quality. Rewetting will likely create a mosaic of different water table depths. Our findings that the yield of and tissue chemical composition of were largely unaffected by water table depth are therefore promising. Depending on intended utilization, optimal cultivation conditions and preferable species differ. Considering yield or diameter, e.g., for building materials, is generally preferable over . A low N, P, K content, high Si content and high C/N-ratio can be beneficial for processing into disposable tableware, charcoal, or building material. For these utilizations, is preferable at high water tables, and both species should be cultivated at a low nutrient supply. When cellulose and lignin contents are relevant, e.g., for paper and biodegradable packaging, is preferable at high water tables and both species should be cultivated at nutrient additions of about 20 kg N ha a.