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

Abstract

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.;

Ecological impacts of early 21st century agricultural change in Europe – A review

“…Many national AEPs increase landscape heterogeneity and consequently their biodiversity benefits (Herzon and Mikk, 2007;Kuussaari et al, 2008;Ekholm et al, 2007). Species such as stone curlew Burhinus oedicnemus, corncrake Crex crex and cirl bunting Emberiza cirlus have exhibited population growth in the UK in response to AEPs (O'Brien et al, 2006;Grice et al, 2007).…”

Spatio-temporal aspects of the environmental factors affecting water quality in boreal rivers

“…The results of this study are consistent with these studies. Increased nitrogen leaching from agricultural areas has been associated with specialised agriculture and regional intensification of animal husbandry (Ekholm et al 2007). However, the spreading of manure to the fields is forbidden from late autumn until April due to implementation of Nitrates Directives (Government Decree on the Restriction of Discharge of Nitrates from Agriculture into Waters 931/2000, 5 §) but it is again allowed during spring floods.…”

“…Moreover, nutrient loading from agricultural areas to surface waters occurs mostly outside the growing season (Granlund et al 2005) when surface runoff and discharge is higher compared to summer. In addition, outside the growing season, fields lack vegetation, which would prevent erosion and uptake nutrients (Ekholm et al 2007). These conclusions are consistent with the discovered connections between water quality and the temporal discharge periods in this study.…”

Integrating Economic and Ecological Impact Modelling: Dynamic Processes in Regional Agriculture under Structural Change

“…Changes in agricultural production, its input and land use intensity, as well as regional concentration of production, are seen as primary drivers of agricultural water pollution. Despite the theoretical fact that decreasing production linked agricultural subsidies should decrease input use intensity and volume of agricultural production, no or little decrease has been observed in agricultural water pollution in Finland during the last 15 years (Ekholm et al 2007). This observation, despite the fact that nitrogen surplus has decreased by 42 % and phosphorous surplus by 65 % in Finland 1995Finland -2006, has been a disappointment since ambitious targets have been set for water quality improvements and significant agri-environmental subsidies have been paid for farmers in order to reach the targets (Turtola, 2007).…”

“…This observation, despite the fact that nitrogen surplus has decreased by 42 % and phosphorous surplus by 65 % in Finland 1995Finland -2006, has been a disappointment since ambitious targets have been set for water quality improvements and significant agri-environmental subsidies have been paid for farmers in order to reach the targets (Turtola, 2007). Ekholm et al (2007) conclude that simultaneous changes in agricultural production (e.g. regional specialisation) and in climate may also have counteracted the effects of agri-environmental measures.…”