ABSTRACT
Peat represents an accumulation of disintegrated plant remains which have been preserved under conditions of incomplete aeration and high water content. It accumulates wherever the conditions are suitable, that is, in areas with excess rainfall and poorly drained ground, irrespective of latitude or altitude. It forms when plant material, usually in marshy areas, is inhibited from decaying fully by the acidic conditions and an absence of microbial activity. For example, peat formation can occur along the inland edge of mangroves, where fine sediments and organic material become trapped in the mangrove roots. Nonetheless, peat deposits tend to be most common in those regions with a comparatively cool wet climate. Physico-chemical and biochemical process cause this organic material to remain in a state of preservation over a long period of time. In other words, waterlogged poorly drained conditions not only favour the growth of a particular type of vegetation but also help preserve the plant remains.
