Description:
Short- and long-term rewetting effects of formerly agriculturally used coastal peatlands at the southern Baltic Sea were studied, especially their N cycling and nutrient exports (N and P) to coastal waters. Two study sites with similar histories were compared, rewetted in 1993 (Karrendorf, KW) and in 2019 (Drammendorf, DW). The rewetting of DW led to a strong nutrient export, being three times higher than at KW. Area-normalized nutrient exports at DW were up to two orders of magnitude higher compared to large Baltic Sea rivers. Stable isotopes of nitrate confirmed its agricultural origin.<eng>