Abstract
Abstract The Baltic Region countries are obliged to meet the stringent limits of N and P discharge set by HELCOM for 2021. Area sources of pollution, including agriculture, are considered the main contributors of biogenic compounds. The Bay of Puck as an inner part of the Baltic Sea is particularly sensitive to eutrophication caused by nutrient inflow from agricultural lands. Rivers and streams inflowing to the Bay of Puck transport nitrogen and phosphorus compounds washed out from fields. The article discusses concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds measured during annual research (VII.2017 – VI.2018) at three watercourses: Płutnica, Reda and Błądzikowski Stream inflowing to the Bay of Puck. The concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 0.13 mg/L N-NO2, from 0.39 to 7.55 mg/L N-NO3, from 0.03 to 0.58 mg/L N-NH4, from 0.44 to 9.51 mg/L TN, from 0.05 to 0.45 mg/L P-PO4 and from 0.03 to 1.89 mg/L TP. Seasonal changes of nutrient concentrations were observed, with maximum concentrations of nitrates in August and September after application of fertilizers to arable land.
Highlights
Eutrophication of coastal marine areas and estuaries, in particular, is an increasing problem across the world (Kroeze et al ), and is caused by nutrient enrichment
Analysing the annual load of nutrients from the three catchments (Table S1, available with the online version of this paper) it was calculated that Bładzikowski Stream, Płutnica and Reda discharge about 35 t P/ year to the Baltic Sea
Seasonal changes were observed according to agricultural practices like fertilizer application and crop harvest
Summary
Eutrophication of coastal marine areas and estuaries, in particular, is an increasing problem across the world (Kroeze et al ), and is caused by nutrient enrichment. In Poland almost the entire territory (98% of the area) is located in the catchment of the Baltic Sea. The characteristic features of the Sea include the inland location, relatively low depth (53 m on average), limited exchange of waters with the Atlantic Ocean, significant inflow of river waters and rainwater and a large number of inhabitants in the watershed. The surface load of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds flowing into the Baltic Sea, counted in kg/kmÀ2·yearÀ1, has increased significantly in recent
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