LIELASOIL SIV-091
FRAMEWORK FOR MONITORING PROGRAMME FOR
NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS CONTENT IN
LIELUPE BASIN SOILS AND WATERS
This programme framework is based on the results of project „Cooperation of LV and LT
agrochemical research institutions in cross-border monitoring of nitrogen and phosphorus
content in soils of Lielupe basin“ (SIV-091 „LIELASOIL“) implemented by Agrochemical
Research Centre of Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture and Latvian Agrochemical Research
Centre in 2006-2007 within the framework of and partly financed by EU Baltic Sea Region
INTERREG III B Neighbourhood Programme INTERREG III A South Priority.
1. Objectives of programme
The overall objective of monitoring of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds content in Lielupe
basin soils and waters is to assess the change of mineral nitrogen and plant available phosphorus
concentrations in soil and drainage water and to evaluate the field balance of these nutrients.
Based on the data obtained from this monitoring and on the data provided by Latvian
Environment, Geology and Meteorology Agency on nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in
waters of Lielupe, its tributaries and lakes, the zones of pollution risk would be determined and
the measures decreasing this risk would be prepared.
2. Nitrogen and phosphorus agricultural pollution risk in Lielupe basin soils:
current situation and different risk areas
Based on the results obtained during implementation of this project it can be concluded that the
risk of water pollution caused by agricultural activities is present in soils of fields where
intensive agricultural technologies are applied. Scale of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution can
be quite different through the year, but after having summed up all the obtained data and
information we can conclude that nitrogen pollution risk is already present in one third of tested
sites and phosphorus pollution risk – in almost half of tested sites. For example, in 2007 in
Lielupe basin in 0-60 cm soil layer very high mineral nitrogen content was determined in 8% of
sites in spring and 29% of sites – in autumn. The maximal permissible concentration of nitrates
Šio darbo parengimą finansiškai rėmė Europos Sąjunga. Visą atsakomybę už darbo turinį prisiima Lietuvos žemdirbystės
instituto Agrocheminių tyrimų centras. Darbo turinys jokiomis aplinkybėmis negali būti vertinamas kaip atspindintis
Europos Sąjungos poziciją.
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LIELASOIL SIV-091
was exceeded in 54% of drainage water samples and 9% of water samples taken from Lielupe
river and its tributaries. 6% of fields had excessive balance of nitrogen. Soil of 52% of tested
sites contained high and very high amounts of plant available phosphorus. 34% of fields had
excessive balance of phosphorus.
Lielupe basin territory, covering Birzai, Pasvalys, Pakruojis, Joniskis, Radviliskis and Kupiskis
administrative districts in Lithuania and Bauska, Dobele, Jelgava and Riga administrative
districts in Latvia, from the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution point of view can be grouped into
the following areas:
1) areas of high nitrogen and phosphorus agricultural pollution risk – Pakruojis and Riga
administrative districts;
2) areas of medium nitrogen and phosphorus agricultural pollution risk where some locations
could be of high nitrogen and phosphorus agricultural pollution risk - Joniskis, Radviliskis,
Pasvalys, Jelgava and Bauska administrative districts;
3) areas of low nitrogen and phosphorus agricultural pollution risk – Birzai, Kupiskis and
Dobele administrative districts.
Šio darbo parengimą finansiškai rėmė Europos Sąjunga. Visą atsakomybę už darbo turinį prisiima Lietuvos žemdirbystės
instituto Agrocheminių tyrimų centras. Darbo turinys jokiomis aplinkybėmis negali būti vertinamas kaip atspindintis
Europos Sąjungos poziciją.
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LIELASOIL SIV-091
Nitrogen and phosphorus compounds concentrations in soil and water – the principles of
monitoring scheme:
Path of P and N compounds: farm – soil - waters – Lielupe river
Fertilisation planning
on farm; making of
fertilisation plans
Fertilisation of
plants; nutrients in
soil
Leaching of
nutrients from soil
into ground and
surface waters
Pollution of
Lielupe river and
its tributaries
with N and P
compounds
MONITORING
N and P balance
calculation for farm
fields
Monitoring of
mineral nitrogen
and plant available
phosphorus content
in soil
Monitoring of
nitrogen and
phosphorus
concentrations in
drainage water
Monitoring of
nitrogen and
phosphorus
concentrations in
Lielupe river and
its tributaries
3. Methods for monitoring of concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus
compounds in soil and water
3.1. Monitoring of mineral nitrogen and plant available phosphorus content in soil
Number and layout of monitoring sites. Within the framework of SIV-091 “LIELASOIL”
project (2006-2007) in Latvian part of Lielupe basin 94 sites were selected for determination of
plant available phosphorus and 39 sites – for determination of mineral nitrogen (3 in Riga
administrative district, and in Bauska, Jelgava and Dobele districts – 12 in each (Figure 1). In
Lithuania 85 sites were selected in Lielupe basin for determination of mineral nitrogen and plant
available phosphorus content in soil (Figure 2). 49 sites were selected in fields which were
fertilised using small and average fertilisation rates (annual nitrogen (N) rate not higher than 90
Šio darbo parengimą finansiškai rėmė Europos Sąjunga. Visą atsakomybę už darbo turinį prisiima Lietuvos žemdirbystės
instituto Agrocheminių tyrimų centras. Darbo turinys jokiomis aplinkybėmis negali būti vertinamas kaip atspindintis
Europos Sąjungos poziciją.
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LIELASOIL SIV-091
kg ha-1). 36 sites were selected in livestock farms accumulating large amounts of manure and in
farms applying high rates of organic and mineral fertilisers.
Nmin monitoring sites
Figure 1.
P2O5 monitoring sites
Layout of mineral nitrogen and plant available phosphorus monitoring
sites in Latvian part of Lielupe basin
Šio darbo parengimą finansiškai rėmė Europos Sąjunga. Visą atsakomybę už darbo turinį prisiima Lietuvos žemdirbystės
instituto Agrocheminių tyrimų centras. Darbo turinys jokiomis aplinkybėmis negali būti vertinamas kaip atspindintis
Europos Sąjungos poziciją.
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LIELASOIL SIV-091
Figure 2.
Layout of mineral nitrogen and plant available phosphorus monitoring sites in Lithuanian part of Lielupe basin
Šio darbo parengimą finansiškai rėmė Europos Sąjunga. Visą atsakomybę už darbo turinį prisiima Lietuvos žemdirbystės instituto Agrocheminių tyrimų centras. Darbo turinys jokiomis
aplinkybėmis negali būti vertinamas kaip atspindintis Europos Sąjungos poziciją.
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LIELASOIL SIV-091
For the purposes of this programme the monitoring sites selected by the Lithuanian and Latvian
partners within the framework of SIV-091 “LIELASOIL” project could be used. Thus there would
be 124 sites for mineral nitrogen monitoring and 179 sites – for plant available phosphorus. The
number of monitoring sites selected in the project should be complemented with some 20 sites for N
and 21 – for P monitoring in Riga, Dobele and Pasvalys administrative districts, where the project
had lower number of monitoring sites. Thus in total the proposed monitoring programme would
be based on 144 sites for mineral nitrogen monitoring and 200 sites for plant available
phosphorus monitoring.
Soil sampling, timing and methods. In Latvia and Lithuania the soil samples for determination of
mineral nitrogen would be collected end of March – beginning of April and end of October from 030, 30-60, 60-90 cm soil layers. The combined soil sample would be made out of 5-7 soil probes.
Nitrate (N-NO3) and ammonia (N-NH4) nitrogen content would be determined in 1M KCl
extraction, the data obtained in mg kg-1 would be translated into kg ha-1 of dry matter.
Soil samples for determination of plant available phosphorus would be collected every third year
(sampled in 2007, next sampling in 2010) in second part of summer from 0-20 cm soil layer. Each
combined soil sample would be made out of 20-25 soil probes. The soil samples would be tested for
phosphorus content: in Lithuania – using Egner-Riehm-Domingo (A-L) method, and in Latvia –
using Egner-Riehm (D-L) method. All the obtained data on plant available phosphorus content in
soil would be evaluated using the same scale developed in the SIV-091 “LIELASOIL” project.
3.2. Monitoring of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in drainage water
Drainage water monitoring would be conducted in ten administrative districts located in Lielupe
basin: Riga, Dobele, Bauska, Jelgava, Kupiskis, Birzai, Pasvalys, Radviliskis, Pakruojis and
Joniskis – two sites in each district, i.e. 20 drainage water monitoring sites in total.
Water samples would be collected in each site four times per year: in April, June, August and
October. Nitrate nitrogen (N-NO3), ammonia nitrogen (N-NH4), total nitrogen (Ntot), phosphates (PPO4) and total phosphorus (Ptot) content would be determined.
Šio darbo parengimą finansiškai rėmė Europos Sąjunga. Visą atsakomybę už darbo turinį prisiima Lietuvos žemdirbystės
instituto Agrocheminių tyrimų centras. Darbo turinys jokiomis aplinkybėmis negali būti vertinamas kaip atspindintis Europos
Sąjungos poziciją.
LIELASOIL SIV-091
3.3. Monitoring of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in waters of Lielupe river and its
tributaries
The data obtained from the monitoring programme conducted by Latvian Environment, Geology
and Meteorology Agency (33 determination spots in total: Lielupe river, Musa river, mouths of
tributaries Vesclocene, Berze, Bikstupe, Auce, Tervete, Skujaine, Svete, Iecava, Misa, Platone,
Vircava, Sesava, Svitene, Islice, Memele, lakes Babite, Svete, Viesite, Saukas, garais, Vinaukas)
would be used for this purpose. Nitrate nitrogen (N-NO3), total nitrogen (Ntot.) and total phosphorus
(Ptot.) content in water would be calculated.
3.4. Monitoring of nitrogen and phosphorus field balances in farms located in Lielupe basin
Monitoring of nitrogen and phosphorus field balances would be conducted in ten administrative
districts (Riga, Dobele, Bauska, Jelgava, Kupiskis, Birzai, Pasvalys, Radviliskis, Pakruojis and
Joniskis), two farms in each district, four fields in each farm. In total 80 fields in 20 farms would be
monitored.
Nitrogen and phosphorus field balances should be monitored at least three years successively.
Balances for fields located in Latvia would be calculated using the approach of Latvian
Agrochemical Research Centre, and for fields located in Lithuania – approach of Agrochemical
Research Centre of Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture. Assessment of calculated balances would be
carried out using the methods prepared by the Agrochemical Research Centre of Lithuanian
Institute of Agriculture.
4. Scope, time-span and preliminary costs of monitoring programme
The foreseen time-span for this monitoring programme is 2009-2011; numbers of analyses and
calculation rounds to be carried out are presented in Table 1. According to preliminary estimations,
the annual costs of the programme would amount to 110 000 €, for three years 330 000 €.
Šio darbo parengimą finansiškai rėmė Europos Sąjunga. Visą atsakomybę už darbo turinį prisiima Lietuvos žemdirbystės
instituto Agrocheminių tyrimų centras. Darbo turinys jokiomis aplinkybėmis negali būti vertinamas kaip atspindintis Europos
Sąjungos poziciją.
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LIELASOIL SIV-091
Table 1. Scope of work to be carried out within the monitoring programme for nitrogen and
phosphorus compounds content in Lielupe basin soils and waters in 2009-2011
Activity
Measurement
LV
LT
unit
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
1. Monitoring of mineral (Nmin) nitrogen and plant available phosphorus (P2O5) content in soil
Nmin spring testing
Analysis
54
54
54
90
90
90
144
Nmin autumn testing
Analysis
54
54
54
90
90
90
144
P2O5 testing
Analysis
94
106
2. Monitoring of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in drainage waters
N-NO3 testing
Analysis *
32
32
32
48
48
48
80
N-NH4 testing
Analysis *
32
32
32
48
48
48
80
Analysis *
32
32
32
48
48
48
80
Ntot. testing
P-PO4 testing
Analysis *
32
32
32
48
48
48
80
Ptot. testing
Analysis *
32
32
32
48
48
48
80
3. Monitoring of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in waters of Lielupe river and its tributaries **
4. Monitoring of nitrogen and phosphorus field balances in farms located in Lielupe basin
N balance
Field
32
32
32
48
48
48
80
P balance
Field
32
32
32
48
48
48
80
*
Number of analyses for 4 years of monitoring
**
The data to be obtained from Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Agency.
Total
2010
2011
144
144
200
144
144
-
80
80
80
80
80
80
80
80
80
80
80
80
80
80
Šio darbo parengimą finansiškai rėmė Europos Sąjunga. Visą atsakomybę už darbo turinį prisiima Lietuvos žemdirbystės
instituto Agrocheminių tyrimų centras. Darbo turinys jokiomis aplinkybėmis negali būti vertinamas kaip atspindintis Europos
Sąjungos poziciją.
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