Paludiculture

Paludiculture is the practice of growing crops in wetland conditions, typically with a water table maintained at 10–30 cm below the soil surface.

On lowland agricultural peat, traditional drainage leads to peat loss and greenhouse gas emissions. Paludiculture presents an opportunity to rewet these areas, reduce emissions, and maintain productive land use, particularly where conventional farming is less viable. 

Unlike wetter farming, which supports conventional crops at slightly lower water tables, paludiculture focuses on wetland species – primarily Typha (bulrush), Phragmites (common reed), and sphagnum moss. 

Research funded by Defra and Natural England is investigating a wide range of challenges – from  crop trials and agronomy to mechanisation, water management, product development and the environmental, social, and financial implications of land use change. These crops show potential for use in construction, textiles, horticulture and energy. 

Paludiculture is also being considered as part of a broader mosaic approach—a flexible land use concept that combines restoration, wetter farming, and conventional cropping to reflect the varied conditions and constraints of lowland peat landscapes. 

Farmers in England can access support for water table management through Countryside Stewardship (Higher Tier), as with wetter farming. 

Paludiculture Diagram

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/649d6fe1bb13dc0012b2e349/lowland-agricultural-peat-task-force-chairs-report.pdf

Resources 

Paludiculture.org: 

https://www.paludiculture.org.uk/  

Principles for Sustainable Peatland Paludiculture (IUCN): 

https://www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org/sites/default/files/2023-09/Principles%20for%20Sustainable%20Peatland%20Paludiculture.pdf  

Paludiculture UKCEH: 

https://lowlandpeat.ceh.ac.uk/paludiculture  

 

Related Organisations

Content below is from across the PEP community and is not necessarily endorsed by Stewards or by PEP

Connected Content

Lowland Agricultural Peat

Lowland agricultural peats represent some of the most productive farming areas in the UK, supporting high-value horticultural crops and key staples such as wheat, potatoes, and sugar beet.

Managing for a sustainable future: Cropping systems on drained lowland peat

Niab has been working with WWF and Fenland Soil to explore and support more sustainable cropping systems on lowland peat soils. This work follows up work completed in 2023 to explore the future of vegetable production on lowland peat.

Wetter Farming

Lowland agricultural peatlands are among the UK’s most productive soils, but their drainage for farming contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and long-term soil degradation. These areas are increasingly the focus of research into sustainable land management practices that maintain productivity while reducing environmental impact. 

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