Peatlands are a major stock of carbon that can be released as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), affecting carbon balance and downstream water quality. This study investigates the impact of peatland restoration on water balance and DOC exports using a simple modelling approach. The results suggest that the restoration can affect the water balance and the dynamics of DOC in the peatland. However, there is no major impact in the quantity of DOC released in a short-term period (3 years).

We summarize our findings as follows: (1) the mountain watersheds are vulnerable to agriculture expansion; (2) proper spatial configuration of agricultural lands in mountain watersheds can mitigate the impact of agriculture on NO3- output by 70%; and (3) the reconstructed element fluxes for the watersheds indicate excessive leaching of N and P, and additional loss of N to the atmosphere via volatilization and denitrification, which likely resulted from excessive fertilizer use.