ravinnemään

Ravinnemään is a Finnish term that translates to nutrient leaching or nutrient runoff. It refers to the process by which nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, are lost from agricultural soils and transported into nearby water bodies. This occurs when rainfall or irrigation washes soluble nutrients from the soil surface or subsurface into streams, rivers, lakes, or groundwater.

The main drivers of ravinnemään include excessive application of fertilizers, especially synthetic ones, and the timing of these applications. Nutrients applied when plants are not actively growing or when the ground is saturated are more susceptible to leaching. Animal manure, if not managed properly, can also be a significant source of nutrient loss. Soil type and topography play a role, with sandy soils and sloped fields being more prone to nutrient runoff.

The consequences of ravinnemään are primarily environmental. Elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in aquatic ecosystems can lead to eutrophication. This process involves excessive algal growth, which consumes dissolved oxygen when the algae decompose, creating hypoxic or anoxic conditions harmful to fish and other aquatic life. Eutrophication can also disrupt the overall biodiversity and ecological balance of water bodies.

Mitigation strategies for ravinnemään focus on improving nutrient management practices in agriculture. These include using fertilizers more efficiently, timing applications to match crop needs, and employing buffer strips of vegetation along watercourses to trap nutrients. Conservation tillage, cover cropping, and improved manure management are also effective measures to reduce nutrient losses and protect water quality.