Reducing agricultural nitrogen inputs in the German Baltic Sea catchment – trends and policy options

2016 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 1060-1068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Ackermann ◽  
Judith Mahnkopf ◽  
Claudia Heidecke ◽  
Markus Venohr
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Emission Model ◽  
Nitrogen Emissions ◽  
Nitrogen Loads ◽  
Policies And Measures ◽  
Nitrogen Inputs ◽  
Nutrient Emission ◽  
Environmental Measures ◽  
Regional Land

We depict recent agricultural nitrogen input and future loads to be expected in 2021 in the German Baltic Sea catchment to assess the feasibility of reaching water quality targets defined by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). We calculate recent and future nitrogen balances from agriculture by applying an interdisciplinary modelling system, also considering the effects of the Nitrate Directive. The nitrogen surpluses are transferred to a nutrient emission model to simulate nitrogen emissions, in-stream retention and resulting riverine loads to the sea until 2021. Finally, we analyse input reduction demands and agri-environmental measures necessary to attain water quality targets of the MSFD. The results are target-oriented mitigation options relevant for implementation, based on regional land use and nitrogen reduction demands. Furthermore, this paper discusses the effects of policies and measures implemented to reduce nitrogen loads.

Nitrogen fluxes on catchment scale: the influence of hydrological aspects

2005 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 163-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Zessner ◽  
Ch. Schilling ◽  
O. Gabriel ◽  
U. Heinecke
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
River System ◽  
High Water ◽  
Emission Model ◽  
River Systems ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Nitrogen Emissions ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Nitrogen Inputs ◽  
Catchment Areas

In two catchment areas with altogether eight subcatchments characterising different site-specific situations the interaction between anthropogenic activities (e.g. agriculture, nutrition and waste water management), nitrogen emissions and in stream loads as well as concentrations were studied in detail. Groundwater is the most important pathway for nitrogen inputs into surface waters. Denitrification in the soil/subsurface/groundwater system controls the amount of this input to a high extent. Key factors influencing this process are organic carbon availability, geology, precipitation and groundwater recharge rates as well as residence time in groundwater. The MONERIS emission model is a useful tool to quantify these relationships on (sub-)catchment scale. Areas where concentrations in groundwater (e.g. nitrate) tend to be higher due to little dilution with water and might be problematic in respect to limit values for drinking water, are much less relevant in respect to the loads transported to river systems and receiving seas, than regions with high precipitation. In cases with high water availability mainly high loads transported downstream and finally to the receiving sea are a considerable problem. Within a region mainly areas close to river systems contribute to nitrogen discharges to the river system because of the short residence times of the groundwater from these areas and - related to this - a lower influence of denitrification in the groundwater.

Groundwater protection and diffuse nitrogen emissions to surface waters – which catchment areas have to be considered?

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 103-110
Author(s):  
C. Schilling ◽  
M. Zessner ◽  
A.P. Blaschke ◽  
D. Gutknecht ◽  
H. Kroiss
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Flow Path ◽  
Emission Model ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Danube Basin ◽  
Nitrogen Emissions ◽  
Nitrogen Levels ◽  
Catchment Areas

Two Austrian case study regions within the Danube basin have been selected for detailed investigations of groundwater and surface water quality at the catchment scale. Water balance calculations have been performed using the conceptual continuous time SWAT 2000 model to characterise catchment hydrology and to identify individual runoff components contributing to river discharge. Nitrogen emission calculations have been performed using the empirical emission model MONERIS to relate individual runoff components to specific nitrogen emissions and for the quantification of total nitrogen emissions to surface waters. Calculated total nitrogen emissions to surface waters using the MONERIS model were significantly influenced by hydrological conditions. For both catchments the groundwater could be identified as major emission pathway of nitrogen emissions to the surface waters. Since most of the nitrogen is emitted by groundwater to the surface water, denitrification in groundwater is of considerable importance reducing nitrogen levels in groundwater along the flow path towards the surface water. An approach was adopted for the grid-oriented estimation of diffuse nitrogen emissions based on calculated groundwater residence time distributions. Denitrification in groundwater was considered using a half life time approach. It could be shown that more than 90% of the total diffuse nitrogen emissions were contributed by areas with low groundwater residence times and short distances to the surface water. Thus, managing diffuse nitrogen emissions the location of catchment areas has to be considered as well as hydrological and hydrogeological conditions, which significantly influence denitrification in the groundwater and reduce nitrogen levels in groundwater on the flow path towards the surface water.

scholarly journals An integrated simulation model to evaluate national measures for the abatement of agricultural nutrients in the Baltic Sea

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 440-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. HYYTIÄINEN ◽  
H. AHTIAINEN ◽  
J. HEIKKILÄ
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Simulation Model ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Gulf Of Finland ◽  
Nutrient Loads ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Bothnian Bay ◽  
The Gulf Of Finland

This study introduces a prototype model for evaluating measures to abate agricultural nutrients in the Baltic Sea from a Finnish national perspective. The stochastic simulation model integrates nutrient dynamics of nitrogen and phosphorus in the sea basins adjoining the Finnish coast, nutrient loads from land and other sources, benefits from nutrient abatement (in the form of recreation and other ecosystem services) and the costs of agricultural abatement activities. The aim of the study is to present the overall structure of the model and to demonstrate its potential using preliminary parameters. The model is made flexible for further improvements in all of its ecological and economic components. The results of a sensitivity analysis suggest that investments in reducing the nutrient load from arable land in Finland would become profitable only if the neighboring countries in the northern Baltic committed themselves to similar reductions. Environmental investments for improving water quality yield the highest returns for the Bothnian Bay and the Gulf of Finland, with smaller returns for the Bothnian Sea. Somewhat surprisingly, in the Bothnian Bay the abatement activities become profitable from the national viewpoint, because the riverine loads from Finland represent a high proportion of the total nutrient loads. In the Gulf of Finland, this proportion is low, but the size of the coastal population benefiting from improved water quality is high.;

scholarly journals Influence of EU policy on agricultural nutrient losses and the state of receiving surface waters in Finland

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 282 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. EKHOLM ◽  
K. GRANLUND ◽  
P. KAUPPILA
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Nutrient Losses ◽  
Agricultural Catchments ◽  
Receiving Waters ◽  
Environmental Measures ◽  
Current Loading ◽  
Regional Specialisation

In Finland, the first large-scale efforts to control nutrient loading from agriculture got under way with the introduction of the EU Agri-Environmental Program in 1995. We examined whether these efforts have decreased agricultural nutrient losses and improved the quality of receiving waters. To do so we used monitoring data on fluxes of nutrients and total suspended solids in agricultural catchments in 1990–2004 and on the water quality of agriculturally loaded rivers, lakes and estuaries in 1990–2005. No clear reduction in loading or improvement in water quality was detected. Hydrological fluctuations do not seem to have eclipsed the effects of the measures taken, since there was no systematic pattern in runoff in the period studied. The apparent inefficiency of the measures taken may be due to the large nutrient reserves of the soil, which slowed down nutrient reductions within the period studied. Simultaneous changes in agricultural production (e.g. regional specialisation) and in climate may also have counteracted the effects of agri-environmental measures. The actions to reduce agricultural loading might have been more successful had they focused specifically on the areas and actions that contribute most to the current loading.;

Modelling the point and non-point nitrogen loads to the Venice Lagoon (Italy): the application of water quality models to the Dese-Zero basin

Desalination ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 226 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 81-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Salvetti ◽  
Marco Acutis ◽  
Arianna Azzellino ◽  
Marta Carpani ◽  
Carlo Giupponi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Venice Lagoon ◽  
Quality Models ◽  
Nitrogen Loads ◽  
Water Quality Models

Use of co-created causal loop diagrams and fuzzy-cognitive scenario analysis for water quality management

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samaneh Seifollahi-Aghmiuni ◽  
Zahra Kalantari ◽  
Georgia Destouni
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Coastal Water ◽  
Scenario Analysis ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Coastal Water Quality ◽  
Causal Loop ◽  
Causal Loop Diagrams ◽  
Quality Issues

<p>Current understanding is fragmented of the environmental, economic, and social processes involved in water quality issues. The fragmentation is particularly evident for coastal water quality, impacted both by local land catchment and larger-scale marine pressures and impacts. Research and policy so far has primarily addressed coastal water quality issues from either a land-based or a sea-based perspective, which does not support integrated management of the coupled land-coast-sea systems affecting coastal waters. For example, mitigation measures for improving the severe Baltic Sea eutrophication have mostly focused on land-based drivers, and not yet managed to sufficiently improve coastal or marine water quality. The strong human dimension involved in these water quality issues also highlights a need for participatory approaches to facilitate knowledge integration and drive synergistic strategic planning for sustainable management of coastal water quality. Considering the Swedish water management district of Northern Baltic Proper, including its main Norrström drainage basin and surrounding coastal catchment areas and waters, this study has used a participatory approach to evaluate various land-sea water quality interactions and associated management measures. A causal loop diagram has been co-created with different stakeholder groups, following a problem-oriented system thinking approach. This has been further used in fuzzy-cognitive scenario analysis to assess integrated land-coast-sea system behavior under changing human pressures and hydro-climatic conditions. Results show that synergy of several catchment measures is needed to improve coastal water quality locally, while cross-system/sector cooperation is also needed among all contributing national catchments to mitigate coastal eutrophication at the scale of the whole Baltic Sea. Furthermore, large-scale hydro-climatic changes and long-lived nutrient legacy sources also need to be accounted for in water quality management strategies and measures. System dynamics modelling, based on co-created causal loop diagrams and fuzzy-cognitive scenario analysis like those developed in this study, can support further quantification and analysis of the impacts of various mitigation strategies and measures on regional water quality problems and their possible sustainable solutions.</p>

Nitrogen budgets of the Polish agriculture 1960–2000: implications for riverine nitrogen loads to the Baltic Sea from transitional countries

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Eriksson ◽  
Marianna Pastuszak ◽  
Stefan Löfgren ◽  
Carl-Magnus Mörth ◽  
Christoph Humborg
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Nitrogen Budgets ◽  
Nitrogen Loads ◽  
Transitional Countries ◽  
The Baltic

scholarly journals Urea Inputs Drive Picoplankton Blooms in Sarasota Bay, Florida, U.S.A.

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2755
Author(s):  
James E. Ivey ◽  
Jennifer L. Wolny ◽  
Cynthia A. Heil ◽  
Susan M. Murasko ◽  
Julie A. Brame ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Lawn Care ◽  
Nitrogen Inputs ◽  
Sarasota Bay ◽  
Slow Release Fertilizers ◽  
Freshwater Inputs ◽  
High Frequency Sampling ◽  
Plankton Communities

Recent increases in global urea usage, including its incorporation in slow-release fertilizers commonly used in lawn care in Florida, have the potential to alter the form and amount of nitrogen inputs to coastal waters. This shift may, in turn, impact phytoplankton community diversity and nutrient cycling processes. An autonomous water quality monitoring and sampling platform containing meteorological and water quality instrumentation, including urea and phycocyanin sensors, was deployed between June and November of 2009 in Sarasota Bay, Florida. This shallow, lagoonal bay is characterized by extensive and growing urban and suburban development and limited tidal exchange and freshwater inputs. During the monitoring period, three high-biomass (up to 40 µg chlorophyll-a·L−1) phytoplankton blooms dominated by picocyanobacteria or picoeukaryotes were observed. Each bloom was preceded by elevated (up to 20 μM) urea concentrations. The geolocation of these three parameters suggests that “finger canals” lining the shore of Sarasota Bay were the source of urea pulses and there is a direct link between localized urea inputs and downstream picoplankton blooms. Furthermore, high frequency sampling is required to detect the response of plankton communities to pulsed events.

Assessing the Baltic Sea Water Quality with Sentinel-3 OLCI Imagery

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Kutser ◽  
T. Soomets ◽  
K. Toming ◽  
R. Uiboupin ◽  
A. Arikas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
The Baltic

Modeling of eutrophication and strategies for improvement of water quality in reservoirs

2016 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 1376-1385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojtaba Shourian ◽  
Ali Moridi ◽  
Mohammad Kaveh
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Thermal Regime ◽  
Thermal Stratification ◽  
Present Situation ◽  
The State ◽  
Nitrogen Loads ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Pollution Loads

The purpose of this study is to survey the thermal regime and eutrophication states in Ilam reservoir in Iran as the case study. For this purpose and to find solutions for improving the water's quality in the reservoir, two general strategies for reducing the entering pollution loads and water depletions from the reservoir's outlets were analyzed by use of the CE-QUAL-W2 model. Results of the simulation of the present situation show the existence of thermal stratification during summer, which results in the qualitative stratification in the reservoir. According to the qualitative criteria, the Ilam reservoir's state is between mesotrophic and eutrophic. Results of the scenarios of reduction of the nutrients show that in the scenario of 50% reduction of the phosphorus and nitrogen loads into the reservoir, the state of the reservoir would recover from eutrophic to semi-eutrophic. Also, release of water from the reservoir during September, October and November would cause the restoration of the quality of water in the reservoir. To avoid the occurrence of critical eutrophication in the reservoir, reducing the ponding time in the reservoir by fast depletion, preventing entrance of the upstream villages' sewage and agricultural drained waters, which are sources of nitrate and phosphate contamination into the rivers, and also management of the usage of agricultural fertilizers have been suggested.

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