ISSN:
1573-2932
Keywords:
Finland
;
forested catchments
;
iron
;
leaching
;
nitrogen
;
nutrients
;
organic carbon
;
peatland
;
phosphorus
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
Notes:
Abstract This study provides an assessment of the spatial variability of the long-term leaching of nutrients, total organic carbon (TOC) and iron (Fetot) from 22 forested catchments (0.69-56 km2), distributed across all but the northenmost areas of Finland. The natural, unmanaged Kruunuoja catchment is located in a national park, while the other catchments represent Finnish forestry land. The average leaching of Ptot (4.2 kg km-2 yr-1) from the Kruunuoja catchment was small compared to the catchments representing forestry land (on average 10 kg km-2 yr-1). Moreover, P fertilization was the most important predictor for the spatial variation in Ptot leaching (r2=0.45). Leaching of TOC, Fetot and N compounds was not closely related to forestry practices. Median C/N ratio in the study streams was high (range 34-66). The average inorganic N proportion and leaching of Ptot were lowest in the Kruunuoja catchment (7.3 % and 2.8 kg km-2 yr-1, respectively) and highest in the southernmost Teeressuonoja catchment (54 % and 100 kg km-2 yr-1, respectively) located in the highest N deposition area. The most important forestry practices since the 1960's have affected about 2.4 % of the area of study sites per year (cf. 2% in the entire country in 1991). Moreover, the mean annual runoff from the catchments (230-430 mm yr-1) agrees with the mean annual runoff from Finland (301 mm yr-1). Consequently, the results of the study catchments can be used to estimate average total annual leaching from Finnish forestry land: 2,700 t of Ptot, 48,000 t of Ntot, 110,000 t of Fetot and 1.5 million t of TOC.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1005049408225
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