The dynamics of dissolved nitrogen in a blanket peat dominated catchment

Precipitation, soil solution and drainage water were collected from a blanket peat catchment at Moor House National Nature Reserve in the Northern Pennine Uplands, UK, an area of moderately high N deposition. Two tributaries of the main stream were also sampled. Between 1993 and 1995 samples were analysed for NH4+ and NO3− and for part of the period for organic N. Inputs of N in precipitation exceeded outputs in stream water. Organic N represented a small proportion of N inputs while inputs of inorganic N averaged 10.2 kg ha−1 a−1. Soil solution from 10 cm depth in the peat was dominated by organic N whereas at 50 cm NH4+ slightly exceeded organic N. NO3− was rarely detected at either depth except during a period of exceptionally warm and dry weather in 1995. Output fluxes in stream water of organic N (5.7 to 6.5 kg ha−1 a−1) were much greater than those of inorganic N (0.6 to 2.2 kg ha−1 a−1). Inorganic N in streams was predominantly NO3− except in the smallest stream which had the largest concentrations of NH4+. This suggests that N transformations, particularly nitrification, may be taking place in the mineral soils adjacent to the streams or within the stream channel of the larger catchment.