title: Impact of agriculture and land use on nitrate contamination in groundwater and running waters in central-west Poland.
abstract: Protected areas due to their long-term protection are expected to be characterized by good water quality. However, in catchments where arable fields dominate, the impact of agriculture on water pollution is still problematic. In Poland, recently, the fertilization level has decreased, mostly for economic reasons. However, this applies primarily to phosphorus and potassium. In order to evaluate the impact of agriculture on water quality in a protected area with a high proportion of arable fields in the aspect of level and type of fertilization, complex monitoring has been applied. The present study was carried out in Wielkopolska National Park and its buffer zone, which are protected under Natura 2000 as Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas. The aim of the study were (1) to assess the impact of agriculture, with special attention on fertilization, on groundwater, and running water quality and (2) to designate priority areas for implementing nitrogen reduction measures in special attention on protected areas. In our study, high nitrogen concentrations in groundwater and surface waters were detected in the agricultural catchments. The results demonstrate that in the watersheds dominated by arable fields, high nitrogen concentrations in groundwater were measured in comparison to forestry catchments, where high ammonium concentrations were observed. The highest nitrogen concentrations were noted in spring after winter freezing, with a small cover of vegetation, and in the areas with a high level of nitrogen application. In the studied areas, both in the park and its buffer zone, unfavorable N:P and N:K ratios in supplied nutrients were detected. Severe shortage of phosphorus and potassium in applied fertilizers is one of the major factors causing leaching of nitrogen due to limited possibilities of its consumption by plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 94C Piątkowska Street, 60-649, Poznan, Poland. lawnic@up.poznan.pl.
authors.forename: Agnieszka Ewa
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lawniczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 94C Piątkowska Street, 60-649, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zbierska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, National Research Institute, 174/176 Dąbrowskiego Street, 60-594, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogumił
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 94C Piątkowska Street, 60-649, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Achtenberg
authors.affiliation: Environment and Water Consulting, 165 Piątkowska Street, 60-650, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grześkowiak
authors.affiliation: Wielkopolska National Park, Jeziory, 62-050, Mosina, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanas
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D011044:Poland; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D009566:Nitrates; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Fertilization; Land use; Nitrate Directive; Protected area