Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2019
Abstract
A negative impact of multiple anthropogenic stressors on surface waters can be observed worldwide threatening fresh- and marine water ecosystem functioning, integrity and services. Water pollution may result from point or diffuse sources. An important difference between a point and a diffuse source is that a point source may be collected, treated or controlled. Agricultural activities related to crop production are considered as diffuse sources and are among the main contributors of nutrient loads to open water courses, being to a large degree responsible for the eutrophication of inland and coastal waters. Knowledge of hydrological and biogeochemical processes are needed for climate adaptive water management as well as for introducing mitigation measures aiming to improve surface water quality. Mathematical models have the potential to estimate changes in hydrological and biogeochemical processes under changing climatic or land use conditions. These models, indeed, need careful calibration and testing before being applied in decision making. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of various water protective adaptation strategies and mitigation measures in reducing the soil particle and nutrient losses towards surface water courses from agricultural dominated catchments. We applied the INCA-N and INCA-P models to a well-studied Norwegian watershed belonging to the Norwegian Agricultural Environmental Monitoring Program. Available measurements on water discharge, TN and TP concentration of stream water and local expert knowledge were used as reference data on land-use specific sediment, N and P losses. The calibration and the validation of both the models was successful; the Nash-Sutcliffe statistics indicated good agreement between the measured and simulated discharge and nutrient loads data. Further, we created a scenario matrix consisting of land use and soil management scenarios combined with different climate change scenarios. Our results indicate that land use change can lead to more significant reduction in particle and nutrient losses than changes in agricultural practices. The most favourable scenario for freshwater ecosystems would be afforestation: changing half of the agricultural areas to forest would reduce sediment, total N and total P losses by approximately 44, 35 and 40%, respectively. Changes in agricultural practices could also improve the situation, especially by reducing areas with autumn tillage to a minimum. We concluded, that the implementation of realistic land use and soil management scenarios still would not lead to satisfactory reduction in freshwater pollution. Hence, mitigation measures, enhancing water and particle retention in the landscape – as sedimentation ponds, constructed wetlands etc. – are important in facing the upcoming pressures on water quality in the future.
Authors
Patrick J. Drohan Marianne Bechmann Anthony Buda Faruk Djodjic Donnacha Doody Jonathon M. Duncan Antti Iho Phil Jordan Peter J. Kleinman Richard McDowell Per-Erik Mellander Ian A. Thomas Paul J. A. WithersAbstract
The evolution of phosphorus (P) management decision support tools (DSTs) and systems (DSS), in support of food and environmental security has been most strongly affected in developed regions by national strategies (i) to optimize levels of plant available P in agricultural soils, and (ii) to mitigate P runoff to water bodies. In the United States, Western Europe, and New Zealand, combinations of regulatory and voluntary strategies, sometimes backed by economic incentives, have often been driven by reactive legislation to protect water bodies. Farmer‐specific DSSs, either based on modeling of P transfer source and transport mechanisms, or when coupled with farm‐specific information or local knowledge, have typically guided best practices, education, and implementation, yet applying DSSs in data poor catchments and/or where user adoption is poor hampers the effectiveness of these systems. Recent developments focused on integrated digital mapping of hydrologically sensitive areas and critical source areas, sometimes using real‐time data and weather forecasting, have rapidly advanced runoff modeling and education. Advances in technology related to monitoring, imaging, sensors, remote sensing, and analytical instrumentation will facilitate the development of DSSs that can predict heterogeneity over wider geographical areas. However, significant challenges remain in developing DSSs that incorporate “big data” in a format that is acceptable to users, and that adequately accounts for catchment variability, farming systems, and farmer behavior. Future efforts will undoubtedly focus on improving efficiency and conserving phosphate rock reserves in the face of future scarcity or prohibitive cost. Most importantly, the principles reviewed here are critical for sustainable agriculture.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) losses from agricultural areas, especially into drinking water and marine environments, attract substantial attention from governments and scientists. This study analysed nitrogen loss from runoff water using long-term monitoring data (1994–2016) from the Skuterud catchment in southeastern Norway and the Naurstad catchment in northern Norway. Precipitation and runoff were lower in the Skuterud catchment than in the Naurstad catchment. However, in the Skuterud catchment, the annual total N (TN) losses ranged from 27 to 68 kg hm−2. High precipitation (1247 mm) in the Naurstad catchment resulted in substantial runoff water (1108 mm) but relatively low total TN losses ranged from 17 to 35 kg hm−2. The proportion of nitrate losses to TN loss was 51–86% and 28–50% in the Skuterud and Naurstad catchments, respectively. Furthermore, the monthly average TN concentrations and nitrate losses had two peaks, in April–May and October, in the Skuterud catchment; however, no significant fluctuations were found in the Naurstad catchment. The contributions of N and runoff water to TN and nitrate losses were calculated using multiple linear regression, and runoff water was the major contributor to TN loss in both catchments. Runoff water was the main factor in the Skuterud catchment, and the nitrate-N concentration was the main factor in the Naurstad catchment.
Authors
Hermine Mitter Anja-K. Techen Franz Sinabell Katharina Helming Kasper Kok Jörg A. Priess Erwin Schmid Benjamin L. Bodirsky Ian Holman Heikki Lehtonen Adrian Leip Chantal Le Mouel Erik Mathijs Bano Mehdi Melania Michetti Klaus Mittenzwei Olivier Mora Lillian Øygarden Pytrik Reidsma Rudiger Schaldach Martin SchönhartAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
Knowledge of soil microtopography and its changes in space and over time is important to the understanding of how tillage influences infiltration, runoff generation and erosion. In this study, the use of a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) is assessed for its ability to quantify small changes in the soil surface at high spatial resolutions for a relatively large surface area (100 m2). Changes in soil surface morphology during snow cover and melt are driven by frost heave, slaking, pressure exertion by the snowpack and overland flow (erosion and deposition). An attempt is undertaken to link these processes to observed changes at the soil surface. A new algorithm for soil surface roughness is introduced to make optimal use of the raw point cloud. This algorithm is less scale dependent than several commonly used roughness calculations. The results of this study show that TLSs can be used for multitemporal scanning of large surfaces and that small changes in surface elevation and roughness can be detected. Statistical analysis of the observed changes against terrain indices did not yield significant evidence for process differentiation.
Authors
Robert BarneveldAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
Assessing redox conditions in soil and groundwater is challenging because redox reactions are oxygen sensitive, hence, destructive sampling methods may provide contact with air and influence the redox state. Furthermore, commonly used redox potential sensors provide only point measurements and are prone to error. This paper assesses whether combining electrical resistivity (ER) and self-potential (SP) measurements can allow the mapping of zones affected by anaerobic degradation. We use ER imaging because anaerobic degradation can release iron and manganese ions, which decreases pore water resistivity, and produces gas, which increases resistivity. Also, electrochemical differences between anaerobic and aerobic zones may create an electron flow, forming a self-potential anomaly. In this laboratory study, with four sand tanks with constant water table heights, time-lapse ER and SP mapped changes in electrical/electron flow properties due to organic contaminant (propylene glycol) degradation. Sampled pore water mapped degradation and water chemistry. When iron and manganese oxides were available, degradation reduced resistivity, because of cation release in pore water. When iron and manganese oxides were unavailable, resistivity increased, plausibly from methane production, which reduced water saturation. To bypass the reactions producing methane and release of metallic cations, a metal pipe was installed in the sand tanks between anaerobic and aerobic zones. The degradation creates an electron surplus at the anaerobic degradation site. The metal pipe allowed electron flow from the anaerobic degradation site to the oxygen-rich near surface. The electrical current sent through the metal pipe formed an SP anomaly observable on the surface of the sand tank. Time-lapse ER demonstrates potential for mapping degradation zones under anaerobic conditions. When an electrical conductor bridges the anaerobic zone with the near surface, the electron flow causes an SP anomaly on the surface. However, electrochemical differences between anaerobic and aerobic zones alone produced no SP signal. Despite their limitations, ER and SP are promising tools for monitoring redox sensitive conditions in unsaturated sandy soils but should not be used in isolation.
Authors
Trine Eggen Heidi Amlund Aksel Bernhoft Ole Martin Eklo Gunnar Sundstøl Eriksen Belinda Eline Flem Torsten Källqvist Bal Ram Singh Eiliv Steinnes Stefan Trapp Anne Falk Øgaard Christiane Kruse Fæste Erik-Jan Lock Live Lingaas Nesse Einar Ringø Håvard Steinshamn Robin Ørnsrud Åshild KrogdahlAbstract
No abstract has been registered