Leaching of nutrients from an ombrotrophic peatland area after fertilizer application on snow

1993

22 S.

zahlr. Lit. Ang.

Bandaufführung

2628

37360

The leaching of elements from 16 artifical basins (drained in 1967) in Central Finland was studied. Four basins were fertilized in 1987 before snowmelt, and four basins after snowmelt 500 kg/ha of a commercial PK- fertilizer and 215 kg/ha of urea were applied. Eight basins were left unfertilized. Extremely high runoff water N-, P-, K-, Ca-, Mg-, Na-, S- and B-concentrations were observed during the snowmelt period. Except for nitrogen, considerable leaching occured from the basins that were fertilized after snowmelt as well. The distinct decrease in runoff water pH as well as long-term leaching of phosphorus appear to be the most serious environmental effects of the fertilizations.