Motivation
Forest management practises may increase nutrient exports from forested
catchments. At least clear-cutting, site preparation, ditching, ditch network
maintenance and fertilization have been reported to increase nitrogen loads
to water courses.
Questions
- What water and nitrogen fluxes the forestry operations change?
- How the operations increase the load to water courses?
- Can the nutrient export be decreased by different management?
Collaboration
Calculation tool for assessing nutrient loads caused by forest management practices has been developed in FEMMA –project funded by Academy of Finland, continued in KUNTO-project funded by the Ministry of the Environment and further in HAME-project funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The model development is done in collaboration between following organisations:
The premises
- The water flow path from the terrestrial part of the catchment to the stream affects the quality of water in the stream. Different vegetation, soil conditions and microbial populations in upland forests, clear-cuttings, buffer zones and peat areas may change the nutrient contents in the surface and subsurface water flowing towards the outlet.
- The effects of the forest management practices in the stream result from the changes in the terrestrial water and nitrogen processes
Contact persons
