Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Phosphorus and nitrogen fluxes carried by 21 Finnish agricultural rivers in 1985–2006

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Finnish Agri-Environmental Programme aims to reduce nutrient load to waters. Using national monitoring data, we estimated the agricultural load (incl. natural background) of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) transported by 21 Finnish rivers to the northern Baltic Sea and analysed the flow-adjusted trends in the loads and concentrations from 1985 to 2006. We also related the loads to spatial and temporal patterns in catchment and agricultural characteristics. Agricultural load of TN increased, especially in the rivers discharging into the Bothnian Bay, while the load of TP decreased in most of the rivers, except those discharging into the Archipelago Sea. The trends may partly be related to a decrease in grassed area (TP, TN) and increased mineralisation (TN), but the available data on catchment and agricultural characteristics did not fully explain the observed pattern. Our study showed that data arising from relatively infrequent monitoring may prove useful for analysing long-term trend. The mutual correlation among the explaining variables hampered the analysis of the load generating factors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aakkula, J., Kuussaari, M., Rankinen, K., Ekholm, P., Heliölä, J., Hyvönen, T., et al. (2011). Follow-up study on the impacts of agri-environmental measures in Finland. Workshop on evaluating agri-environmental policies. Braunschweig, Germany, 20–22 June 2011. In Evaluation of Agri-Environmental Policies Selected Methodological Issues and Case Studies (pp. 111–127). OECD Publishing.

  • Arheimer, B., Andersson, L., & Lepistö, A. (1996). Variation of nitrogen concentration in forest streams—influences of flow, seasonality and catchment characteristics. Journal of Hydrology, 179, 281–304.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Babbie, E. R. (2007). The practice of social research (11th edition): Thomson Wadsworth.

  • Bouraoui, F., & Grizzetti, B. (2011). Long term change of nutrient concentrations of rivers discharging in European seas. Science of the Total Environment, 409, 4899–4916.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cherry, K. A., Shepherd, M., Withers, P. J. A., & Mooney, S. J. (2008). Assessing the effectiveness of actions to mitigate nutrient loss from agriculture: a review of methods. Science of the Total Environment, 406(1–2), 1–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EEC. (1992). Council Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 of 30 June 1992 on agricultural production methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside. Official Journal of the European Communities, L215, 85–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekholm, P., & Mitikka, S. (2006). Agricultural lakes in Finland—current water quality and trends. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 116, 111–135.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ekholm, P., Granlund, K., Kauppila, P., Mitikka, S., Niemi, J., Rankinen, K., et al. (2007). Influence of EU policy on agricultural nutrient losses and the state of receiving surface waters in Finland. Agricultural and Food Science, 16, 282–300.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Granlund, K., Räike, A., Ekholm, P., Rankinen, K., & Rekolainen, S. (2005). Assessment of water protection targets for agricultural nutrient loading in Finland. Journal of Hydrology, 304(1–4), 251–260.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jarvie, H. P., Withers, P. J. A., Bowes, M. J., Palmer-Felgate, E. J., Harper, D. M., Wasiak, K., et al. (2010). Streamwater phosphorus and nitrogen across a gradient in rural–agricultural land use intensity. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 135, 238–252.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnes, P. J. (2007). Uncertainties in annual riverine phophorus load estimation: impact of load estimation methodology, sampling frequency, baseflow index and catchment population density. Journal of Hydrology, 332, 241–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kajosaari, E. (1965). On the washing of phosphorus into watercourses (in Finnish with an English summary). Vesitalous, 1965(3), 17–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kauppi, L. (1979). Phosphorus and nitrogen input from rural population, agriculture and forest fertilization to watercourses. Publications of the Water Research Institute, 34, 35–46.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kauppi, L. (1984). Contribution of agricultural loading to the deterioration of surface waters in Finland. Publications of the Water Research Institute, 57, 24–30.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kauppi, L., Knuuttila, S., Sandman, K., Eskonen, K., Luokkanen, S., & Liehu, A. (1990). Role of landuse in the occurrence of blue-green algal blooms. [Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol.]. Verhandlungen der internationationale Vereinigung für theoretische und angewandte Limnologie, 24, 671-676.

  • Kauppila, P., & Koskiaho, J. (2003). Evaluation of annual loads of nutrients and suspended solids in Baltic rivers. Nordic Hydrology, 34(3), 203–220.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kenttämies, K., & Mattson, T. (2006). Metsätalouden vesistökuormitus, MESUVEprojektin loppuraportti. Suomen ympäristökeskus.

  • Kortelainen, P., Mattsson, T., Finér, L., Ahtiainen, M., Saukkonen, S., & Sallantaus, T. (2006). Controls on the export of C, N, P and Fe from undisturbed boreal catchments, Finland. Aquatic Sciences, 68, 453–468.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kronvang, B., Bechmann, M., Lundekvam, H., Behrendt, H., Rubaek, G. H., Schoumans, O. F., et al. (2005). Phosphorus losses from agricultural areas in river basins: effects and uncertainties of targeted mitigation measures. Journal of Environmental Quality, 34(6), 2129–2144.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kukkonen, M., Rita, H., Hohnwald, S., & Nygren, A. (2007). Treefall gaps of certified, conventionally managed and natural forests as regeneration sites for neotropical timber trees in northern Honduras. Forest Ecology and Management, 255, 2163–2176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laukkanen, M., & Nauges, C. (2014). Evaluating greening farm policies: a structural model for assessing agri-environmental subsidies. Land Economics, 90(3), 458–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lepistö, A., Kortelainen, P., & Mattson, T. (2008). Increased organic C and N leaching in a northern boreal river basin in Finland. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 22, 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Libiseller, C., & Grimvall, A. (2002). Performance of partial Mann-Kendall tests for trend detection in the presence of covariates. Environmetrics, 13(1), 71–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lilja, H., Uusitalo, R., Yli-Halla, M., Nevalainen, R., Väänänen, T., & Tamminen, P. (2009). Finnish soil database user’s guide. MTT Tiede 6 (in Finnish.).

  • Mäntylahti, V. (2003). Suomen peltojen viljavuus 1986-1990, 1991-1995, 1996-2000. Viljavuuspalvely Oy.

  • Mattsson, T., Finer, L., Kortelainen, P., & Sallantaus, T. (2003). Brook water quality and background leaching from unmanaged forested catchments in Finland. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 147, 275–297.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niemi, J., & Ahlstedt, J. (Eds.). (2012). Finnish agriculture and rural industries 2012 (MTT Taloustutkimus julkaisuja 112a): MTT Economic Research, Agrifood Research Finland.

  • Pellikka, J., Rita, H., Lindén, H., & Svensberg, M. (2007). Motives for voluntary wildlife monitoring in Finland. Wildlife Biology, 13, 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Penttilä, R., Lindgren, M., Miettinen, O., Rita, H., & Hanski, I. (2006). Consequences of forest fragmentation for polyporous fungi at two spatial scales. Oikos, 114(2), 225–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puustinen, M., Tattari, S., Koskiaho, J., & Linjama, J. (2007). Influence of seasonal and annual hydrological variations on erosion and phosphorus transport from arable areas in Finland. Soil & Tillage Research, 93(1), 44–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rask, M., Olin, M., & Ruuhijärvi, J. (2010). Fish-based assessment of ecological status of Finnish lakes loaded by diffuse nutrient pollution from agriculture. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 17(2), 126–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rekolainen, S., Posch, M., Kämäri, J., & Ekholm, P. (1991). Evaluation of the accuracy and precision of annual phosphorus load estimates from 2 agricultural basins in Finland. Journal of Hydrology, 128(1–4), 237–255.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salo, T., & Turtola, E. (2006). Nitrogen balance as an indicator of nitrogen leaching in Finland. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 113(1–4), 98–107. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2005.09.002.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stålnacke, P., Aakerøy, P. A., Blicher-Mathiasen, G., Iital, A., Jansons, V., Koskiaho, J., et al. (2014). Temporal trends in nitrogen concentrations and losses from agricultural catchments in the Nordic and Baltic countries. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 198, 94–103. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2014.03.028.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sucksdorff, Y., & Teiniranta, R. (2001). Land cover and land use mapping in Finland. In G. Groom & T. Reed (Eds.), Strategic landscape monitoring for the Nordic countries (pp. 523) (pp. 89–93). Copenhagen: TemaNord. Nordic Council of Ministers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutela, T., & Vehanen, T. (2009). Responses of fluvial fish assemblages to agriculture within the boreal zone. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 17, 141–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tamminen, T., & Andersen, T. (2007). Seasonal phytoplankton nutrient limitation patterns as revealed by bioassays over Baltic Sea gradients of salinity and eutrophication. Marine Ecology-Progress Series, 340, 121–138.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turtola, E. (2007). The Agri-Environmental Program in Finland: Effects on nutrient loading from agriculture into surface waters in 2000-2006—preface. Agricultural and Food Science, 16(4), 279–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uusi-Kämppä, J., & Heinonen-Tanski, H. (2008). Evaluating slurry broadcasting and injection to ley for phosphorus losses and fecal microorganisms in surface runoff. Journal of Environmental Quality, 37, 2339–2350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uusitalo, R. (2004). Potential bioavailability of particulate phosphorus in runoff from arable clayey soils (Agrifood Research Reports 53). Jokioinen: MTT.

  • Uusitalo, R., & Jansson, H. (2002). Dissolved reactive phosphorus in runoff assessed by soil extraction with an acetate buffer. Agricultural and Food Science in Finland, 11(4), 343–353.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uusitalo, R., Turtola, E., & Lemola, R. (2007). Phosphorus losses from a subdrained clayey soil as affected by cultivation practices. Agricultural and Food Science, 16, 352–365.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vagstad, N., Stålnacke, P., Andersen, H. E., Deelstra, J., Jansons, V., Kyllmar, K., et al. (2004). Regional variations in diffuse nitrogen losses from agriculture in the Nordic and Baltic regions. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 8(4), 651–662.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valve, H., Åkerman, M., & Kaljonen, M. (2013). ‘You only start filling in the boxes’: natural resource management and the politics of plan-ability. Environment & Planning A, 45, 2084–2099.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varanka, S., & Luoto, M. (2011). Environmental determinants of water quality in boreal rivers based on partitioning methods. River Research and Applications, 28, 1034–1046.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vuorenmaa, J., Rekolainen, S., Lepisto, A., Kenttamies, K., & Kauppila, P. (2002). Losses of nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural and forest areas in Finland during the 1980s and 1990s. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 76(2), 213–248.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vuorinen, J., & Mäkitie, O. (1955). The method of soil testing in use in Finland. Agrogeological Publications, 63, 1-44.

  • Wartiovaara, J. (1975). Jokien ainevirtaamista Suomen rannikolla [English abstract: Amounts of Substances Discharged by Rivers Off the Coast of Finland] (Vesientutkimuslaitoksen julkaisuja - Publications of the Water Research Institute 13): Vesihallitus-National Board of Waters.

  • Windolf, J., Blicher-Mathiesen, G., Carstensen, J., & Kronvang, B. (2012). Changes in nitrogen loads to estuaries following implementation of governmental action plans in Denmark: a paired catchment and estuary approach for analysing regional responses. Environmental Science & Policy, 24, 24–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yli-Viikari, A., Hietala-Koivu, R., Huusela-Veistola, E., Hyvönen, T., Perälä, P., & Turtola, E. (2007). Evaluating agri-environmental indicators (AEIs)—use and limitations of international indicators at national level. Ecological Indicators, 7, 150–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Ministry of the Environment, the Finnish Field Drainage Association, Maa- ja Vesitekniikan Tuki ry and the EU Erasmus programme for financially supporting this study. We are grateful to Jukka Aroviita for commenting on the manuscript and Hannu Sirviö, Niina Kotamäki and Heli Rita for the help with Proc Mixed.

Compliance with ethical standards

We see no ethical issues or potential conflicts of interest in this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, P.O. Box 140, 00251, Helsinki, Finland

    Petri Ekholm, Katri Rankinen, Antti Räike, Heidi Sjöblom, Arjen Raateland, Ljudmila Vesikko, José Enrique Cano Bernal & Antti Taskinen

  2. University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Hannu Rita

Authors
  1. Petri Ekholm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Katri Rankinen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hannu Rita
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Antti Räike
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Heidi Sjöblom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Arjen Raateland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ljudmila Vesikko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. José Enrique Cano Bernal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Antti Taskinen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Petri Ekholm.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ekholm, P., Rankinen, K., Rita, H. et al. Phosphorus and nitrogen fluxes carried by 21 Finnish agricultural rivers in 1985–2006. Environ Monit Assess 187, 216 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4417-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4417-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation