Nitrate variation in drainage water under degradation of peat soils

–1 , those of the leakage being 8.5 and 26.2 kg · ha –1 , respectively. Nitrate concentration in the water of mineral soil, which had 5–7 times less organic materials compared with peat soil, was about 2.5 times lower. A stronger functional link was found between the content of nitrates in soil and water with drainage discharge and the groundwater level; a weaker link was observed with precipitation, air temperature and soil humidity. The highest tendency of nitrate increase was established in the drainage water from meadows in May: 15.2% from meadows and 8.9% from tillage land per year. The nitrate concentrations in drainage water increased less in October: 5.5% from meadows and 6.7% from tillage land per year.