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Research article2008Peer reviewedOpen access

Changes in nutrient leaching and groundwater quality during long-term studies of an arable field on the Swedish south-west coast

Ulen, Barbro; Johansson, Goran; Simonsson, Magnus

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term (1977-2004) effects of new agricultural practices and reduced acid rain on drainwater and groundwater chemistry for an intensely cultivated arable field with sandy soil in south-west Sweden. Trends in chemical composition of the drainwater were compared with those of atmospheric deposition and groundwater. A modified crop rotation including catch crops significantly decreased the average concentration of nitrate nitrogen (NO(3)-N) in drainwater from 13.0 to 7.2 mg L(-1). This rotation was also found to be a very effective measure against high NO(3)-N concentrations in shallow groundwater (1.7 m below the soil surface). The degree of phosphorus saturation (DPS) in the subsoil, calculated to be 10% and 9% by two different laboratory methods, corresponded to an average and constant concentration of dissolved reactive phosphate (DRP) in drainwater of 0.006 mg l(-1). Generally lower inputs of acid deposition to the soil were confirmed by a decreasing SO(4)-S trend (by 3% over 24 years) in drainwater. Changes in cropping had reduced the acid load to the soil, while drainwater alkalinity showed a slow but significant positive trend amounting to 0.4% over 24 years.

Keywords

drainwater; groundwater; ionic balance; nutrients; trends; water chemistry

Published in

Hydrology research
2008, volume: 39, number: 1, pages: 63-77

SLU Authors

  • Ulen, Barbro

    • Department of Soil Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

  • Johansson, Göran

    • Department of Soil Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

  • Simonsson, Magnus

    • Department of Soil Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Global goals (SDG)

SDG6 Clean water and sanitation

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use
Agricultural Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2008.030

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/17469