Types of Submerged Soil

This chapter is concerned with the different types of wetland soil as sources, sinks and transformers of nutrients, particular nutrient deficiencies and mineral toxicides that commonly arise following submergence, and the fate of pollutants that are commonly added to submerged soils, both accidentally and intentionally. 

Fresh, brackish, and saline marshes have different mineral matter requirements for maintaining accretion. It is estimated that to vertically accrete at 1 cm year" fresh marsh required 424 g m year", brackish marsh required 1,052 g m year", and saline marsh required 1,789 g m" year" (Nyman et al., 1990). Marsh loss may occur if low mineral and organic matter accumulation result in inadeqnate rates of vertical accretion to keep pace with submergence or if the composition in the soil substrate is insufficient to snpport growth of marsh vegetation in individual marsh types. 

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