Monitoring of arable fields

Data from the programme Monitoring of arable fields includes runoff, nutrient leaching and cropping practices. The surveys are carried out on 13 fields on farms in different parts of Sweden. The fields are part of the farms' normal operations and crop rotation.

The aim of the survey is to study how cultivation affects plant nutrient leaching in different parts of the country. Runoff from the fields is continuously recorded, and samples of drainage water are taken every two weeks. The water samples are analysed for nitrogen, phosphorus and suspended solids. Water quality in groundwater is analysed in nine fields.

The programme is part of the national environmental monitoring of agricultural land, which started in the 1970s. The dataset therefore contains about 50 years of data.

The farmers submit annual data on crops and cultivation measures on the fields.

• Nutrient concentrations in drainage water can be downloaded from the database Jordbruksvatten.
• Groundwater chemistry and pressure levels can be are downloaded from the Department of Soil and Environment.
• For access to data on crops and cultivation measures contact helena.linefur@slu.se.