Impact of forest ditching on nutrient loadings of a small stream—a paired catchment study in Kronoby, W. Finland

The effect of ditching of boreal forest land (W. Finland) on P and N dynamics and export was assessed using a paired catchment approach (response stream+control stream) for a 4-year study period. After the ditching operations, there was a small but significant increase in the NH4+ export, but no significant changes in the concentrations and loads of total reactive P, total non-reactive P, total organic N and NO3−. In both streams, the reactive P fraction largely followed the Fe concentrations. High input to output ratios, and thus, high retention was a typical feature of the inorganic N compounds. Total organic N and the TOC/TON ratio were positively correlated with the total organic carbon.