Gypsiferous Soils Research Articles

Predicting the chemical and mechanical properties of gypseous soils using different simulation technics

Predicting the chemical and mechanical properties of gypseous soils using different simulation technics

Performance of soil moisture sensors in gypsiferous and salt-affected soils

Accurate soil moisture measurements are key for optimising field irrigation and for the precise monitoring of water flow in soil profiles or large watersheds. In recent decades, various soil moisture sensors (SMSs) have been widely used, and several studies have been conducted to evaluate the performance of the SMS technologies under different soil and field conditions. The soluble salt content in soil can affect the sensitivity of SMSs because of their influence on soil permittivity. In this field study, we evaluated different types of SMSs in gypsiferous and salt-affected soils located at two agricultural sites in western Iraq. Two WaterScout capacitance sensors, SM100 and SMEC300, were evaluated in addition to the Watermark granular matrix sensor. Soil moisture measurements by the gravimetric method were compared with SMS readings. Bulk electrical conductivity (ECb) ranged between 3.3–8.1 and 5.6–10.3 dS m −1 for sites 1 and 2 respectively, during the experiment. The results showed that site-specific calibration of the sensors significantly increased their accuracy. At Site 1, the RMSE values for the Watermark, SM100, and SMEC300 sensors changed from 3.48, 2.68, and 1.96 before calibration to 1.25, 0.91, and 0.90, respectively. For site 2, the RMSE values changed from 3.78, 3.09, and 2.34, to 1.37, 1.03, and 0.95, respectively. After the site-specific calibration, the capacitance sensors were sufficiently accurate for scientific measurements. The granular matrix sensors should only be used for field irrigation management if a high-accuracy level is not required and only after site-specific calibration. • SMSs estimate soil permittivity as an indicator to soil moisture content. • Salinity influences the accuracy of SMSs due to the impact on dielectric properties. • In situ calibration of SMSs are important for the reliability of the measurements. • Our study focuses on performance evaluation of different SMSs in salt-affected soils.

Novel Approach for Suppression of Ettringite Formation in Sulfate-Bearing Soil Using Blends of Nano-Magnesium Oxide, Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag and Rice Husk Ash

The treatment of sulfate-bearing soil with calcium-based stabilizers such as cement or lime often results in ettringite formation, consequently leading to swelling and strength deterioration. Ettringite formation has negative environmental and economic effects on various civil engineering structures. This study was conducted to investigate the use of different materials (nano–magnesium oxide (M), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), and rice husk ash (RHA)) for gypseous soil stabilization to prevent ettringite formation. Various tests were performed, including flexural strength, unconfined compression strength, linear expansion, and microstructure analysis (SEM/EDX), on lime (L)-, (M)-, (M-RHA)-, (M-GGBS)-, and (M-GGBS-RHA)-stabilized gypseous soil samples to determine their properties. The results indicated that the swelling rates of the soil samples mixed with 20% M-RHA, M-GGBS, and M-GGBS-RHA binders were much lower (less than 0.01% of volume change) than those of the soil samples mixed with 10% and 20% lime-stabilized binders after a curing period of 90 days. Meanwhile, the strengths of the soil samples mixed with 20% of M-RHA, M-GGBS, and M-GGBS-RHA soil specimens after soaking of 90 days were obviously higher (with a range from 2.7–12.8 MPa) than those of the soil samples mixed with 20% of lime-stabilized binder. The SEM and EDX results showed no ettringite formation in the M-RHA-, M-GGBS-, and M-GGBS-RHA-stabilized soils. Overall, the test results proved the potential of M-RHA, M-GGBS, and M-GGBS-RHA as effective soil stabilizers.

Corn response to incremental applications of sulfate‐sulfur

AbstractReports of sulfur (S) deficiency symptoms in corn (Zea mays L.) fields of the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota are increasing. Current soil tests cannot predict the availability of S correctly due to the presence of gypsum in soils of this region. Field trials were conducted to determine corn yield and S uptake response to incremental applications of S (0, 11, 22, 33, and 44 kg S ha–1) in the form of ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4]. Corn yield and S uptake varied significantly between sites. Out of 12 sites, only two sites had the highest corn yield without S application. Corn grain S removal ranged between 11 and 17 kg S ha–1 at harvest. Fertilizer‐S (SO4) application did not result in a significant yield response. The current recommendation of 11 kg S ha–1 may be necessary to reduce the risk of future S deficiency across this region and compensate for the removal of S in grain due to the uncertainty of adequate plant available S.

Effect of Foliar and ground additions of chelated micronutrient in In the concentration of iron and zinc in leaves and tubers Potatoes Solaum tuberosum L. in gypsiferous Soil

A field experiment was conducted in the fields of the College of Agriculture, Tikrit University for the 2019-2020 agricultural season to study the comparison of ground and leaf additives to iron and zinc chelated fertilizers in the growth and yield of potatoes in gypsum soil. The experiment was carried out using RCBD with three replications. The study included two types of chelated fertilizers (chelated iron and chelated zinc) and two methods of adding fertilizers (adding ground and adding paper) (T1 and T2) respectively. And three levels of zinc (0, 0.5, and 1 kg Zn h-1) (Z0, Z1, and Z2) respectively of Zn-DTPA and three levels of iron (0, 5 and 01 kg Fe h-1) (F0, F1, and F2) respectively. Arrangement of Fertilizer (Fe-DTPA). The addition of iron led to a significant increase in the concentration of two elements (Fe, Zn) in potato leaves. The percentage increase of iron was 23.55 and 39.28%, for zinc, and 3.122 and 8.034% for F1 and F2 levels, respectively, compared to the F0 comparison treatment. The foliar addition of iron and zinc increased the concentration of the above elements in the tubers with rates of 19.91% and 40.45, respectively, compared to the addition of the ground. The addition of zinc at a rate of (0.5 and 1 kg Zn. h-1) significantly increased the concentration of the above elements, as the percentage of zinc increased by 36.94 and 57.53%, respectively, compared to treatment Z0, while the addition of zinc did not give a significant increase in iron concentration. The highest concentration of potato plants of the elements of iron and zinc reached 274.45 and 34.72 mg. Kg-1 when treatment T2F2Z2. The addition of iron gave a significant increase in the concentration of two elements (Fe, Zn) in potato tubers, and the percentage increase of iron was 37.65. And 70.60% for zinc, 3.114 and 4.561% for F1 and F2 levels, respectively, compared to the F0 comparison treatment. The foliar addition of iron and zinc increased the iron and zinc concentration in the tubers with rates of 15.76% and 8.240%, respectively, compared to the addition of the ground. Addition of zinc at a rate of (0.5 and 1 kg Zn.h-1) resulted in a significant increase in zinc concentration of 18.06 and 23.22%, respectively, compared to treatment Z0, while it did not give a significant increase in iron concentration.

Effect of Boron and Nitrogen Level under Different Plant Spacings on some Growth and Yield Parameters of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck) in a gypsiferous soil

A field experiment was conducted in the fields of the Faculty of Agriculture, Tikrit University for the 2019-2020 agricultural season to study the effect of planting distances and the level of nitrogen fertilization and boron on the growth and yield of broccoli in gypsum soil. The study included three factors, the first factor was the distance between plants, and it included four distances (35, 45, 55, and 65 cm) (D1, D2, D3, and D4), respectively. The second factor was the level of nitrogen application, which includes two levels of nitrogen 70 and 140 (kg N ha-1) (N1 and N2), respectively. The third factor was the level of boron addition and it includes two levels of boron, which are (without boron application and 6 kg B. ha-1) (B0 and B1), respectively. Results showed that the nitrogen level N2 gave a clear significant increase compared to the N1 level in dry matter yield (the first cut), reaching (21.58 g. Plant-1), while the first level N1 reached (17.94 g(. Dry matter yield (the second cut) reached (84.39 g. Plant-1) in the second level N2, while in the first level it reached (74.36 g. Plant-1) and the N2 level was significantly superior over N1 level for some indicators of vegetative growth, plant height (cm) and leaf area (cm2). -1) and the number of leaves (leaf-plant-1) and thus the yield increased significantly in this level of nitrogen at the N1 level, as the total yield of floral heads at the N2 level was (25.865 tons. Ha-1) and at the N1 level (22.6 ton ha-1). The addition of boron fertilizer at a rate of (6 kg B. ha -1) led to a significant increase in the dry matter yield (the first and second cuts) and to a significant increase in the yield, as well as in the boron concentration in the shoot and the floral heads, and the vegetative growth indicators of broccoli. Planting at a 65 cm among broccoli plants (D4) led to a significant increase in dry matter yield (first and second cut) and an increase in plant yield. The superiority was significant over other distances except for the distance D1, which gave the highest total yield of broccoli floral heads, reaching 26.63 (tons ha-1). 1), whereas the distances D2, D3, and D4 gave a total yield of 25.38 , 22.71, and 22.21 (ton ha-1), respectively. The triple interaction between nitrogen (N) and planting distances (D) and boron (B) gave the highest value at the treatment (D4N2B1) which was significantly superior over other treatments for most of the studied traits, except the total yield of the floral heads where the superiority was in favor of treatment D1N2B1.

English

Salinity and sodicity are the major abiotic constraints that prevail in arid and semi-arid regions. Proper management is required for productive use of this land. Reclamation of sodic and saline-sodic soils is highly site-specific that describes the diverse response of different soils to different amendments. These reclamation practices also alter the plant's physiological and ionic characteristics. This experiment aimed to better understand the physiological and ionic responses of rice crop at different salinity/sodicity levels. A lysimeter experiment was set forth with soil having ECe (dS m-1):SAR (mmol L-1)1/2 levels as 4:20, 8:40, 12:60 and 16:80 and all the levels were treated with organic (farm manure at 25 Mg ha-1) and inorganic (gypsum at 100% soil gypsum requirement (SGR) and sulphuric acid equivalent to 100% SGR) amendments keeping no ammendment as control. Results revealed that the maximum relative increase in physiological attributes (photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and total chlorophyll contents), ionic contents (nitrogen, potassium and K:Na ratio) and growth of rice were recorded with sulphuric acid application followed by gypsum. On an average 25%, 31% and 45% increase in biological yield, plant height and paddy yield, respectively was observed with sulphuric acid application over control. It is concluded that sulphuric acid and gypsum both were the best amendments for reclamation of soil having a low level of salinity/sodicity whereas, at higher salinity/sodicity levels, only sulphuric acid seemed better for improved rice production. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers

ENVIRONMENT SENSITIVITY MAPS OF LAND DEGRADATION AND DESRTIFICATION USING MEDULAS MODEL AND REMOTE SENSING IN SHIRQAT CITY/IRAQ

This research of aims to study environment sensitivity of desertification and land degradation using MEDULAS project and remote sensing in AL-Shirqat City/Salahadin/Iraq. A 10 soil pedons were chosen from study area depending on difference in soil preperties, landuse and causes of desertification and degradation as (Salinity, Erosion, Gypsum and vegetation cover). Soil profile description, soil samples and GPS were conducted. The physical (texture) and chemical (CaCO3, CaSO4.2H2O, O.M, EC and pH) properties were determined. The Soil were classified as Torrifluvents in the (P1, P2, P3), Torripsamments in the (P5 and P7), Calcigypsids in the (P6, P8 and P10) and Calcids in the P4. The landsat 8 image at 20sep. 2019 and 19 sep. 2013 were aquired in the spectral indices calculate and spatial maps by using ERDAS 15 and GIS 10.2. The result show contrast in soil propreties as sand, clay, soil gypsum, CaCO3, OM and EC that reflect on Soil Quality Index (SQI) which were (60)% poor quality and (40)% moderate quality degradation. While (19.10) % that moderate quality and 80.90% that poor quality for Vegetation Quality Index. The results show that 0.1% of the study area is classified as C1; 25.35% as C2; 74.55% of the areas as C3. The spectral indices as LAI, SI5, OSAVI were approporiate for monitor of desertification and degradation in study area. Add, spatial change in the spectral indices as NDVI and LAI. The results shown that MEDALUS model is a important model in the areas disposed to desertification and degradation.

Laboratory Investigation on Physical-Mechanical Characteristics and Microstructure of a Clayey Gypsiferous Soil in the Presence of Chemical Accelerator

Gypsiferous soils are considered as problematic soils that cause damage to engineering infrastructures, particularly hydraulic structures. The exposition of gypsiferous soils to the steady flow leads to the dissolution of gypsum particles, significantly changing the soil engineering characteristics. In this paper, by employing physical, chemical, and mechanical experiments, the effect of raw gypsum with various percentages (0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% and 15%) on the geotechnical parameters of a low plasticiy clay was investigated through leaching. Electrical conductivity test and ionic concentration analysis were used to assess the trend of gypsum dissolution. The results showed that leaching and increased gypsum content significantly degraded soil engineering characteristics, such as strength and compressibility. Acidic accelerator (diluted acetic acid) speeded up the chemical reaction rate and, at the same time, affected the geotechnical properties of the soil more than water. Mineralogical and microstructural studies (x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy) were carried out to evaluate the interaction between gypsum and soil particles and verify laboratory test results. The x-ray diffraction patterns indicated the formation of new peaks such as calcium aluminate hydrated (CAH) and calcium silicate hydrated (CSH) and the altered structure of pure soil following the addition of raw gypsum. Scanning electron microscope images confirmed the presence of cementitious compounds and changes in the texture of gypsiferous soil in comparison with pure soil. Energy dispersive x-ray interpretation revealed changes in the chemical composition of soil blended with gypsum. The laboratory test results were corroborated by microstructural analyses.

Mineralogical and physico-chemical characterization of gypsiferous semi-arid soils in the north of Urmia, Iran

Gypsiferous soils contain sufficient gypsum to influence soil physico-chemical, mineralogical, mechanical properties and geotechnical conditions and as a consequence, affect plant growth and crop production. So physico-chemical and mineralogical properties of 6 soil profiles located on the gypsiferous parent material with semi-arid climate in north of Urmia, West Azerbaijan province, Iran, were investigated. Based on standard methods, morphological, physico-chemical and mineralogical properties of these soils were determined. Soils with higher gypsum content had lighter color, lighter texture, lower values of organic carbon and cation exchange capacity and higher values of electrical conductivity. These parameters were reversely changed with decreasing gypsum content of soils. Semi-quantitative analysis of clay minerals indicated the presence of smectite, illite, chlorite, kaolinite and palygorskite were as major clay minerals with decreasing order from smectite to palygorskite. The origin of illite, chlorite and kaolinite were related to the inheritance from parent material. Smectite group of clay minerals has been resulted from three origins of inheritance from parent material, transformation of illite and palygorskite and neoformation, but the transformation and neoformation are the main pathways for its formation. Palygorskite has pedogenic origin and has been formed via neoformation. The comparison of clay mineralogy of soils with different gypsum values revealed the presence of higher smectites in soils with higher gypsum. Palygorskite was identified just in soils with higher gypsum. In soils with lower values of gypsum, illite and chlorite were the predominant clay minerals and palygorskite did not identified.

Behavior of Square Footing Resting on Gypseous Soil and Surrounded by a Sheet Pile Wall

Abstract Laboratory model is used in this study to investigate the behavior of centrally loaded square footing resting on gypseous soil, and surrounded by a sheet pile wall at a distance of 2B from the footing edge and extend in depth to 2B as well. During this study the soil were subjected to ten cycles of saturation and drainage at one-week interval to simulate heavy rainfalls or floods. It should be noted that the soaking water were added only outside the area surrounded by the sheet pile. Four points were chosen to detect gypsum solubility, three of them below the footing edge at different depths and one outside the sheet pile wall for comparison. It has been found that the dissolved gypsum below the footing is significantly less than the one outside the sheet pile wall. For each cycle of saturation-drainage the gypsum content is found to be reduced by 3 % and 0.8 % for the outsider point and for average of the three points respectively. Settlement during first cycle of saturation – drainage was twice as the second cycle and about four times of the third cycle. However, this first cycle settlement is about 25 % of the settlement of footing where no sheet pile wall is used. To sum up, the sheet pile wall found to be an effective protection to reduce the collapsibility of gypsum soil and to reduce footing settlement.

Gypsum soil amendment in metal-polluted soils—an added environmental hazard

Scientists around the world have long been searching for effective strategies to reduce the bioavailability of metals in contaminated soils. In case of metal-spiked soils, some studies have proposed gypsum as a soil amendment to alleviate metal phytotoxicity. However, for real field-collected soils, evidence on the efficacy of gypsum as a metal phytotoxicity amendment is limited. Therefore, the present study was designed to examine the effect of gypsum on plant growth in soils polluted by a copper smelter. We grew perennial ryegrass on untreated and gypsum-treated soils (at a dose of 3% by weight) under laboratory conditions. We found that gypsum had no effect on alleviating metal phytotoxicity in our soils. We also demonstrated – for the first time – that gypsum increased the concentrations of soluble metals in the soil, enhancing metal uptake by plants. The calcium ions from gypsum displace metals in the soil exchangeable complex; however, the metals do not get immobilized in soils because gypsum is a neutral salt. While our results contrast with the Terrestrial Biotic Ligand Model, that Model has never been tested on real industrially polluted soils but only on metal-spiked soils. Our main conclusion is that gypsum is ineffective in alleviating metal phytotoxicity in real industrially polluted soils and, moreover, its use is inappropriate as a soil remediation method, because it increases the environmental hazard rather than reducing it. Our study is the very first attempt to recognize that gypsum is a hazardous material when used to ameliorate soils polluted by metals.

EFFECTS OF HYBRID FIBER-REINFORCED GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE STABILIZED WITH GYPSEOUS SOIL-EXPERIMENTAL AND SIMULATION APPROACH

Geopolymer concrete is established to have brilliant designing properties with a decreased carbon impression. Geopolymer with fibers has gained prevalence in recent years for use in concrete, for the most part, inferable from their low cost and outstanding individuality. In this examination, Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete (FRGPC) is utilized as a binder with the impacts of the intrinsic sulfate solution in Gypseous Soil. GPC blend is included with alkaline activators, for example, NaOH and KOH with molarities [M. Z. N. Khan, Y. Hao, H. Hao and F. U. A. Shaikh, Cem. Concr. Compos.85 (2018) 133; P. Sukontasukkul, P. Pongsopha, P. Chindaprasirt and S. Songpiriyakij, Constr. Build. Mater. 161 (2018) 37; Y. Alrefaei and J.-G. Dai, Constr. Build. Mater. 184 (2018) 419] and hybrid fibers (steel and polypropylene) with the fiber content of 0–0.16%. Fibers are added to upgrade the strength to the concrete to meet given functionality necessities. The Gypseous Soil is taken with the percentage of G13,G25,G54, to assess the effects, compressive strength, ductility, collapsibility potential, and coefficient of penetrability tests were performed with a soaked and unsoaked solution. These outcomes are validated with the assistance of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) optimization algorithm. The validation results played out that ideal precision and high strength of the activated solution. At long last, the simulated outcomes give better execution compared with existing papers.

Closure to “Suppressing Ettringite-Induced Swelling of Gypseous Soil by Using Magnesia-Activated Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag” by Wentao Li, Yaolin Yi, and Anand J. Puppala

Closure to “Suppressing Ettringite-Induced Swelling of Gypseous Soil by Using Magnesia-Activated Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag” by Wentao Li, Yaolin Yi, and Anand J. Puppala

Discussion of “Suppressing Ettringite-Induced Swelling of Gypseous Soil by Using Magnesia-Activated Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag” by Wentao Li, Yaolin Yi, and Anand J. Puppala

Discussion of “Suppressing Ettringite-Induced Swelling of Gypseous Soil by Using Magnesia-Activated Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag” by Wentao Li, Yaolin Yi, and Anand J. Puppala

Linear and nonlinear approaches and statistical evaluations to predict the shear strength parameters and collapse potential of gypseous soils

Linear and nonlinear approaches and statistical evaluations to predict the shear strength parameters and collapse potential of gypseous soils

WETTING AND DRYING CYCLES EFFECT ON DURABILITY OF GYPSUM SOILS TREATED WITH CALCIUM CHLORIDE OR CEMENT ADDITIVES

The study consists of two stages: the first one is to improve the gypsum soil with cement or calcium chloride and the second stage is to expose these soil specimens to series of wetting and drying cycles .Three soil specimens were taken and marked as (A,B and C) with gypsum content (47, 32 and 23)% respectively .The results show that cement additive increases the cohesion of soil specimens to 50% and collapse potential decreases with 65% and soil specimens improved with calcium chloride increase the cohesion up to more than 70% and collapse potential decreased about 70%. In the first cycle for wetting and drying cycles for soil specimens improved with cement the cohesion decreases about 25% and stays with the same ratio of the decreasing along the other cycle up to twelfth cycle. Collapse potential remains with the same value and is not affected by cycling of wetting and drying. In the first cycle for soil specimens treated with calcium chloride there is no effect in the first cycle whereas in the fourth cycle the cohesion increased by 60% and in the eighth cycle the cohesion decreased 8% and remains stable until the twelfth cycle. Collapse potential increases from one cycle to another by (30-50) % for all soil specimens.

Remote sensing of inland Sabkha and a study of the salinity and temporal stability for sustainable development: A case study from the West coast of Qatar

The inland sabkha of the Arabian Gulf is important to study for the occurrence of minerals, rocks, soil salinity, and stability of the sabkha due to the high demand for infrastructure and agriculture development region. This study describes the spectral absorptions of evaporite minerals, discriminates rocks, maps salt crusts, gypsiferous soil flats, and soil salinity, and studies the temporal stability of an inland sabkha of the Dukhan area, west coast of the State of Qatar. This was performed using satellite data of the Hyperion of EO1, ASTER of Terra, and multispectral instrument (MSI) of Sentinel-2. The occurrence of minerals in the area is detected using Hyperion data by the linear spectral unmixing (LSU) method and studied for their spatial distribution. The different geological formations of the sabkha were discriminated by using the VNIR (visible and near-infrared) and SWIR (shortwave infrared) spectral bands from ASTER by principal component analysis (PCA). The image developed by using the principal components (R:PC2, G:PC3, B:PC5) showed the formations in different tones. Salinity of the area was mapped using monthly data of MSI from 2018 to 2020 by normalized difference salinity index (NDSI) (band11-band12)/(band11 + band12). The results of the index displayed the distribution of salinity in the area. Besides, moisture of the area was studied by using the normalized difference moisture index (NDMI) (b8-b11)/(b8 + b11) and described the temporal stability of the sabkha. All the results of image analyses were validated through field and laboratory studies. The study of laboratory spectra of evaporite minerals namely gypsum, anhydrite, and halite present in the salt crusts and gypsiferous soil flats showed their unique spectral absorptions in between 1.4–1.5 μm and 1.9–2.0 μm whereas, the calcite and dolomite minerals of the carbonate formations exhibited deep absorptions near 2.345 and 2.495 μm respectively.

Evaluation and Biological properties maps of Gypsiferous Soil using Geomatic techniques, Tikrit city, Salahaldin, Iraq

This study was conducted to prepare a map of the biological properties in the gypsiferouse soil using geomatic techniques at the Tikrit city site. (20) soil samples of the surface layer of gypsum soil were collected randomly according to differently in the nature of agricultural exploitation as survey study. Analyses and measurements of physical (texture and bulk density) and chemical characteristics were carried out: pH, EC, O.M, CaSO4.2H2O and the bacteria and fungi numbers were estimated by methods Certified in the laboratory. Used satellite Images acquired at 24Feb.2019 and 20sep.2019 were used and processed digitally and calculated the following vegetation indicators as follows: NDVI, OSAVI, LAI and LST. Maps of the biological properties (Bacteria and Fungi) were prepared using the Kriging interpolation according to The Spheroidal Model in the ArcGIS Ver environment.10.2. The show results the effect of gypsum content in the bacteria and fungi with the R2 (0.75 and 0.79). The results reached the importance of indices in evaluating the state and activity of bacteria as a positive regression relationship between the NDVI, LAI and OSAVI with the numbers of bacteria and fungi range (0.49-0.80) and were negative regression with the earth’s surface temperature LST. Therefore, spectral indices has proved important in spatial forecasting of the distribution and activity of organisms and the control of seasonal changes in soil surface.

Remediating Agricultural Legacy Nutrient Loads in the Baltic Sea Region

The Baltic Sea is considered the marine water body most severely affected by eutrophication within Europe. Due to its limited water exchange nutrients have a particularly long residence time in the sea. While several studies have analysed the costs of reducing current nutrient emissions, the costs for remediating legacy nutrient loads of past emissions remain unknown. Although the Baltic Sea is a comparatively well-monitored region, current data and knowledge is insufficient to provide a sound quantification of legacy nutrient loads and much less their abatement costs. A first rough estimation of agricultural legacy nutrient loads yields an accumulation of 0.5–4.0 Mt N and 0.3–1.2 Mt P in the Baltic Sea and 0.4–0.5 Mt P in agricultural soils within the catchment. The costs for removing or immobilising this amount of nutrients via deep water oxygenation, mussel farming and soil gypsum amendment are in the range of few tens to over 100 billion €. These preliminary results are meant as a basis for future studies and show that while requiring serious commitment to funding and implementation, remediating agricultural legacy loads is not infeasible and may even provide economic benefits to local communities in the long run.