1. Monitoring and Assessment
of Impact of
Nutrient Management
Measures
Dr. Antanas Sigitas ŠILEIKA
Water Management Institute
Sigitas@water.omnitel.net
2004 09 14

2. The problem
 Status Report on Implementation
of the 1988 Ministerial Declaration
reveled that non of the HELCOM
Contracting Parties had achieved
the overall N and P load reduction
target of 50 % to the Baltic Sea

3. Nutrient load to the Baltic Sea
N, tons P, tons
Country 1990 1995 1990 1995
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
Germany
Latvia
Lithuania
Poland
Russia
Sweden
83,000
59,000
72,000
14,000
94,000
19,000
120,000
81,000
119,000
68,700
46,500
66,000
21,400
91,000
36,800
214,800
84,600
130,900
5,300
2,800
3,400
1,200
3,200
1,700
15,000
9,500
4,000
2,600
1,300
3,600
0,600
2,200
1,400
14,200
7,100
4,700
N load has
increased
100,000 tons
TOTAL 661,000 760,700 46,100 37,700

4. Nutrient load to the Baltic Sea from the
r. Nemunas in Lithuania
NO3-N load
Year NH4-N, t NO3-N, t PO4-P, t
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
has
3,736
7,144
5,273
4,727
7,980
6,654
5,727
1,078
1,664
14,978
15,131
14,727
27,596
32,753
23,193
39,661
27,205
37,383
5,845
1,780
2,972
1,561
1,723
0,979
1,128
0,592
1,076
increased
2.5 times
Source: Monitoring annals of the Lithuanian Joint Research Centre. Calculation for the Nemunas basin from Smalininkai post

5. Nitrogen load from agriculture in rivers of
Finland, Germany, Denmark and Lithuania
Source: Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry (BERNET Report), 2000
Monitoring data of the Lithuanian Joint Research Centre
20
15
10
5
0
Ostrobothnia
(Finland)
Schleswig-
Holstein
(Germany)
Fyn County
(Denmark)
Nemunas
basin
(Lithuania)
Ni trogen load kgha-1 year
N leaching from
Nemunas basin 6
times less than
from Denmark

6. Agricultural Production, N Fertilization in Lithuania,
NO3-N Concentration in Agricultural Rivers
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
Fertilization, production, %
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Concentration, mg/l
Production
% Fertilization
%
Concentration
mg/l

7. AVG NO3-N Concentration, mg/l 1996-2001
Šešuvis
Kaliningrad distr.
Šušvė
Poland
1
B e l a r u s
L a t v i a
Baltic Sea
Minija
Šyša
Jūra
Minija
Veiviržas
Jūra
Dubysa
Tatula
Šiauliai
Panevėžys
Klaipėda
Kaunas
Vilnius
Venta
Rekyvos ež.
Lėvuo
Vyžuona
Dubysa
Mūša
Mūša
Šventoji
Tauragnų
Aisetas
Žeimenys
Siesartis
Minčia
Šventoji
Širvinta
Žeimena
Neris
Venta
Mūša
Nevėžis
Nevėžis
Kėdainiai
Šušvė
Nemunas
Merkys
Nemunas
Šešupė
Skroblus
Merkys
Šešupė
Marijampolė
Šilutė
Tauragė
Plungė
Pasvalys
Biržai
Anykščiai
Concentration 0,0-1,0 mgl-1
Concentration 0,1-2,0 mgl-1
Concentration 2,1-3,0 mgl-1
Concentration 3,1-4,0 mgl-1
Concentration >4,1 mgl-1
> 4.1 mgN/l

8. NO3- N changes in the agricultural
and background rivers
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Nevezis
Zeimen
a
Period of agr.
reform.
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002

9. Duckweed in the r. Nevezis

10. Nutrient concentration in rivers
 Phosphorus concentration dropped
down below eutrophication level 0,05
mg/l;
 Ammonium nitrogen concentration now
is below permitted limit 0,39 mg/l;
 Meantime concentration of nitrate
nitrogen increased and still is higher
than before 1990 in agricultural rivers.

11. N cycle in watershed
Rainfall
Fodder
Emission
Fertilizers
N
fixation
Food
Leaching
Runoff

12. Monitoring and Assessment Method
1. Demonstration watersheds in the areas
vulnerable to nitrate pollution and built
on previous BAAP and other works;
2. Topography, soils characteristics and
land use GIS data base in watersheds;
3. Advanced manure handling in animal
farm and nutrients balance on fields
and farms;
4. Monitoring of agricultural runoff,
precipitation, water quality in dug wells.

13. Characteristics of
demonstration watersheds
Watershed Total
area, km2
Arable,
%
Pasture,
%
Forest,
%
Graisupis 14.1 48.1 24.1 27.8
Vardas 7.5 32.2 44.8 23.0
Lyzena 1.83 23.3 74.3 2.4
Bariunai 0.24 Farm
Yard
0.1 0

14. Kaliningrad district
Poland
Belorussia
L a t v I a
Baltic Sea
Minija
Jūra
Venta
Tatula
Šiauliai
Panevėžys
Klaipėda
Kaunas
Vilnius
Lėvuo
Vyžuona
Mūša
Mūša
Šventoji
Žeimena
Neris
Mūša
Nevėžis
Nemunas
Nemunas
Nemunas
Šešupė
Nemunas basin
Lielupė basin
Venta basin
Baltic sea basin
Vardas
Bariūnai
Graisupis
Lyžena
Location of
Monitoring
Watersheds

15. Watersheds
150
148
138
#
152
154
142
146
136
140
144
142
134
154
158
160
154
152
144
132
140
130
164
170
128
172
146
132
150
158
162
146
150
132
162
144
142
154
134
134
150
142
146
142
136
154
154
153
156
146
144
N
Monitoring
post
Lyžena
Lyžena
#
Valučiai
Dem. farm
N
Monitoring
post
Graisupis
Graisupis
Graisupis
N
#
+
Monitoring post
Dem. farm
Graisupis
post
Vardas
post
Lyzena
post

16. Opening of the DF

17. Monitoring post

18. Monitoring methods
 Thompson weirs are used for flow
measurements in streams. Water level is
registered automatically by limnigraphs;
 The river water samples are taken manually
every day. Joint weekly samples are analysed
in spring and joint monthly sample at another
time of the year;
 The concentration of nutrients and average
monthly values of the river water flow are used
for calculation of nutrient losses;
 Tipping buckets are used for drainage flow
measurements.

19. NO3-N load from watershed, kg ha yr-1
1997 1998 1999 Total AVG
r. Graisupis 11.6 17.6 6.9 36.1 12.0
Ditch 13.4 19.2 14.9 46.8 15.6
Crop 16.1 22.8 11.5 50.8 16.8
Pasture 6.7 5.3 4.4 16.4 5.5
Rainfall 4.9 1.9 5.23 12.4 4.0
Largest load
from crop

20. NO3-N concentration in r. Nevezis
(upstream Kedainiai) and Graisupis
20
15
10
5
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Concentration, mgl-1l
Nevezis Graisupis

21. Nutrient retention
25
20
15
10
5
0
Load kg ha-1
1997 1998 1999 AVG
Load
from crop
Load
in stream
Load
in ditch
Load
in river

22. Assessment of watersheds monitoring
 The highest N losses (15.3 kg N ha-1) determines more
intensive agricultural activity in Graisupis (71.5 kg N
ha-1 of fertilisers; 54% of arable land; 0.87 LU ha-1);
 Close to the sea (Lyzena) are bigger water discharges
in winter but due to low N content in soil (32.9 kg N ha-1
of fertilisers, 74% of grassland) the annual N losses are
very small (5.7 kg N ha-1);
 The highest P losses (0.318 kg P ha-1) determine
Vardas hilly relief and clay soil;
 Bigger specific water runoff (0.08 l s-1 ha-1) and light
soils (sandy loam) determine comparatively high N
losses (11.9 kg N ha-1) despite low farming activity
(39.4 kg N ha-1 of fertilisers, 45% of grassland) in
Vardas watershed.

23. N cycle
on farm N losses
N losses

24. N and P input in soil of dem. farm
N P
Input, kg ha-1
1995 1999 2001 1995 1999 2001
Fertilizers & seeds 41 85 124 30 10 9
Fodder and
7 9 10 2 2 6
animals
Deposition &
fixation
4 17.6 13 0 0.5 0
Manure 7 10 14
Total I 59 122 160 32 13 15

25. N and P output from soil, kg ha-1
1995 1999 2001 1995 1999 2001
Crop yield 80 123 74 13 24 16
NH3 evaporation 7 50
Leaching 38 30 23
Denitrification 38 30 16
Total II 163 237 113 13 24 16
Total I-Total II (x) -102 -111 +46 +20 -10 -4
Deficit Oversupply
Residues (y) 34 43 32 6 14 7
x–y =deficit/oversupply -136 -154 +14 +14 -24 -11

26. Kėdainiai 7
Krakės
11.52 ha
3 8 1
9 5
6
2
V
16.33 ha
IV
8.16 ha
II
VI
6.36 ha
I
6.65 ha
G-1
Graisupis
G-1
Monitoring
post
57
56.5
III
12.5 ha
Field Trials

27. N leaching dependence on crop
Perennial
grass
Spring
cereal
Winter
cereal
Row
crops
The least leaching
is from perennial
pastures
The highest leaching is
from row crops

28. Grassland management and NO3- N
leaching to drainage, kg ha-1
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Cut
Ploughed
After
ploughing
Before
ploughing
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

29. Slurry in Lithuanian large farms
Skuodas
Kretinga Telšiai
< 2000 m3
2001-5000 m3
5001-10000 m3
10001-20000 m3
> 20000 m3
Šilu tė
Tauragė
Plungė
Klaipėda
Akmenė
Joniškis
Pakruojis
Kelmė
Radviliškis
Šiauliai
Šilalė
Raseiniai Kėdainiai
Jurbarkas
Šakiai
Vilkaviškis
Kaunas
Marijampolė
Pasvalys
Panevėžys
Biržai
Rokiškis
Zarasai
Kupiškis
Anykščiai
Utena
Ignalina
Ukmergė
Molėtai Švenčionys
Jonava
Širvintos
Mūša
Vilnius
Kaišiadorys
Trakai
Šalčininkai
Prienai
Alytus
Varėna Lazdijai
Mažeikiai
Mūša
Kaunas
Vilnius
Klaipėda Panevėžys
Nemunas
Nemunas
Minija
Šyša
Jūra
Minija
Veiviržas
JūraŠešuvis
Dubysa
Šušvė
Tatula
Šiauliai
Venta
Rekyvos ež. Lėvuo
Dubysa
Šventoji
Tauragnų
Aisetas
Žeimenys
Siesartis
Šventoji
Širvinta
Žeimena
Neris
Venta
Mūša
Nevėžis
Nevėžis
Kėdainiai
Šušvė
Nemunas
Nemunas
Šešupė
Skroblus
Merkys
Šešupė
Marijampolė
Šilutė
Plungė
Pasvalys
Biržai
Anykščiai
9
:
-
< 1.0
1.0 - 2,0
2,1 - 4,0
4,1 - 5,0
>5,0
Nėra duomenų

30. Nutrients in milk production
Feed
135 kgN;17 kgP; 105 kgK
Milk
27 kgN; 5 kgP; 7 kgK
Offspring and weight gain
2 kgN; 0,5 kgP; 0,1 kgK
Litter
5 kgN; 0,5 kgP; 6,0 kgK
Manure and slurry
111 kgN; 12 kgP; 104 kgK
5000 kg
111 kgN, 12 kgP and
104 kgK
produce one cow per
year

31. Lithuanian obligations to EU
 To establish manure storages on large
farms with more than 300 AU as well as
on newly established farms having over
150 AU within a 4-year period after
entering the EU
 All the rest farms with more than 10 AU
endangering the environment with
nitrates will also have to reconstruct
their barns later.

32. Monitoring post
Barn
watershed
N
+ Coordinate
Manure storage
Monitoring post
Road
Basin
Barn
Manure storage
Collector
Drain
Contourline
70 0 70 140 Meters
#
6 236 400
+480 000
46
45
45.5
47 46.5
44.5
46
44.5
45
45
45
45
45
46
45
46.5
44.5
2
1
Pasture
#
Ground water piezometer
Cow barn

33. Barn territory before manure storage
construction

34. Layout of
manure
handling
system
Cowbarn
Cow barn
Cowbarn
3
5
1 6
Manure pad
2
4
1 - urine reservoir
2 - silage pad
3 - urine pumping pit
4 - pit for milking parlour effluents
5 - free flow line for milking parlour effluents
6 - urine gutter
Surry pit
Manure
pad

35. Manure storage, slurry reservoir and rain
water management

36. Filling of slurry spreader

37. Slurry spreading by trailing hoses

38. Total N concentration in drainage water from the
territory of barns
25
20
15
10
5
0
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Concentration, mgN l-1
102 39
Permitted limit
12mgN/l
Before
construction
Filling
Full pit

39. Total P concentration in drainage water from the
territory of barns
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Concentration micro g l-1
7600 8100 5800
Permitted limit
1500 micro gP/l
Filling
Full pit
Before
construction

40. Manure storage capacity and
financing need for farms > 10 AU
 Number of farms – Ctl 1450 and Pig 49
 Manure pads need – Ctl 446.5 thou m2
 Slurry reservoirs need – Ctl 472.7 thou
m3 and Pig 39.8 thou m3
 Manure pads construction cost– Ctl 22.5
M EUR
 Slurry reservoirs cost – Ctl 50.8 M EUR
and Pig 4.6 M EUR
 Total cost – 78.0 M EUR

41. NO3-N concentration in 5775 dug wells
10.0
5.0
0
Mai 124 mgN/l
Mediana 8.7 MgN/l
>10 mgN/l
Max 124 mgN/l
Median 8.7 MgN/l

42. Water improvement in dug well
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
NO3-N concentration, mg/l
Well water
Permitted
limit
Permitted
limit