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A lysimeter method was evaluated for its suitability in gas emission studies by studying the effect of temperature on CO₂ emissions (dark respiration) from cultivated peat soils. The study was carried out with organic soils from two locations in Sweden, a typical cultivated fen peat with low pH and high organic matter content (Örke) and a more uncommon fen peat with high pH and low organic matter content (Majnegården). A drilling method with minimal soil disturbance was used to collect 12 undisturbed soil lysimeters per site. CO₂ emission was measured weekly from the vegetated lysimeters and the results were compared with data from incubation experiments. The CO₂ emissions measured in the lysimeter experiment were in the same range as those in other studies and showed a similar increase with temperature as in the incubation experiment. With climatic and drainage conditions being similar in the lysimeter …