Peat is a type of organic material formed by the accumulation of partially decayed vegetation in anaerobic, waterlogged environments. Due to the lack of oxygen, decomposition is slowed, allowing plant matter to accumulate over millennia. Chemically, it is recognized for its high organic carbon content and characteristic acidity, which results from the nature of the decomposing biomass. In applied science, it is widely utilized as a horticultural substrate due to its excellent capacity for water retention, aeration, and gradual pH buffering. Historically and technologically, it has also been used as a combustible fuel source.