Hydrological legacy determines the type of enzyme inhibition in a peatlands chronosequence.

Peatland ecosystems contain one-third of the world's soil carbon store and many have been exposed to drought leading to a loss of carbon. Understanding biogeochemical mechanisms affecting decomposition in peatlands is essential for improving resilience of ecosystem function to predicted climate change. We investigated biogeochemical changes along a chronosequence of hydrological restoration (dry eroded gully, drain-blocked <2 years, drain blocked <7 years and wet pristine site), and examined whether hydrological legacy alters the response of β-glucosidase kinetics (i.e. type of inhibition) to short-term drying and waterlogging. In the dry eroded gully at depth, low phenolic concentrations were associated with enhanced β-glucosidase enzyme activities (V