The aim of this study was to analyse the applicability of infrared (IR) heaters (400 W, HTS/1 Elstein) to increase peat temperature of water-saturated peat. The experiment was carried out within two schemes. In VARIANT I the heaters were installed perpendicular to the heated surface at a height of 2.3 m, while in VARIANT II the heaters were mounted at a height of 2 m at the edges of the heated surface so that radiation reached the heated surface at an angle of approximately 40-50°. Based on the

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... analyses of night-time means (from 3:00 to 6:00 a.m.) of peat temperatures recorded on manipulated plots under the heaters and the reference temperature, it was found that the application of HTS/1 heaters caused an increase of the mean peat temperature by 1.1°C and 0.5°C for VARIANT I and VARIANT II, respectively. The air temperature 5 cm above the heated surfaces was increased by 0.7°C and by 0.5°C at VARIANT I and II, respectively. K e y w o r d s: infrared heaters, temperature manipulation, peat