Nitrogen budget in the River Auli catchment: a catchment dominated by agriculture in southeastern Norway

An intensive study on N inputs and losses has been carried out in six sub-catchments and the main catchment of the river Auli$(366\ {\rm km}^{2})$in southeastern Norway, from 1992 to 1995. Total N transport in the main river outlet was 20.6, 19.1 and 26.5 kg N ha-1yr-1, respectively, for the agrohyd...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ambio 1997-08, Vol.26 (5), p.289-295
Main Authors: Hoeyaas, T.R, Vagstad, N, Bechmann, M, Eggestad, H.O. (Jordforsk, Aas (Norway))
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ABONOS NITROGENADOS
Agricultural land
Agricultural runoff
Agricultural soils
AZOTE
BASSIN VERSANT
COURS D'EAU
CROP YIELD
Crops
CUENCAS HIDROGRAFICAS
CURSOS DE AGUA
ENGRAIS AZOTE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Forest soils
Grassland soils
IMPACT SUR L'ENVIRONNEMENT
IMPACTO AMBIENTAL
Intensive production
NITROGEN
NITROGEN FERTILIZERS
NITROGENO
NORUEGA
NORVEGE
NORWAY
Organic farming
POLLUTION BY AGRICULTURE
POLLUTION DE L'EAU
POLLUTION PAR L'AGRICULTURE
POLUCION DEL AGUA
POLUCION POR LA AGRICULTURA
RENDEMENT DES CULTURES
RENDIMIENTO DE CULTIVOS
RIVERS
WATER POLLUTION
WATERSHEDS
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Summary:An intensive study on N inputs and losses has been carried out in six sub-catchments and the main catchment of the river Auli$(366\ {\rm km}^{2})$in southeastern Norway, from 1992 to 1995. Total N transport in the main river outlet was 20.6, 19.1 and 26.5 kg N ha-1yr-1, respectively, for the agrohydrological years 1992/93 to 1994/95. Approximately 85% of the total input of N to the catchment area is related to agricultural activities, of which 65-70% derives from mineral fertilizers. Only 15% derives from long-distance atmospheric deposition. Nitrogen input did not vary much from one year to another, while output varied considerably due to shifting weather conditions. Consequently, the surplus one particular year was mainly determined by the crop yields obtained. The whole catchment surplus varied from 20 to 41 kg ha-1during the monitoring period. High N surplus might increase the nitrate leaching risk, but other factors such as amount, intensity and time of precipitation, and net mineralization during winter appear to influence nitrogen losses to a great extent. The three-year average nitrogen transport from the agricultural catchment was 64 kg N ha-1yr-1. N transport from forest catchments was considerably lower and varied from 2 to 10 kg N ha-1yr-1. Agricultural losses were by far the most important contributor to N transport in the main river.
ISSN:0044-7447
1654-7209