Parent institution: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
Active since 2019
Active through Since establishment contionuously
Joki-Tokola, Erkki
email: erkki.joki-tokola@luke.fi
The research platform consists of 20 hectares area of organic soils which is divided into six study plots. To each study plot is installed devices which collect subsurface drainage waters year-round and from one study plot also surface waters to the pumping station for sampling. Collected water samples are later analyzed for the desirable parameters of water. GHG emissions are measured also trough-out the year and separately from each study plot using chamber techniques and eddy covariance measurement. Research field is farmed using alternative crops and cultivation techniques. Obtained results give information from practicable ways to reduce environmental load from cultivated organic soils. Results are urgently needed because cultivated organic soils are seen one of the highest sources of GHG emissions. Since organic soils have a relatively low nutrient binding capacity, they may have an increased nutrient leaching risk compared to mineral soils.
The role of organic soils in Finnish agriculture is vital. Their utilization cannot be rejected in large extent. The more rational way is to find out practices and solutions for their sustainable utilization. The role of research is crucial. The existing research information is limited especially from soils which have a relatively shallow organic surface layer (< 0.8 m). Ongoing research started in 2019.
Country: Finland
Latitude: 64.68386111
Longitude: 25.10467
Nearest town: Raahe and Oulu
Distance from neaerst town: Ruukki 5, Raahe 30, Oulu 60 km
In 2019 finalized research platform at Siikajoki is designed for monitoring of GHG emissions and nutrient flow in subsurface drainage waters and in surface runoff waters when organic soils are farmed using alternative crop rotations and cultivation techniques. These soils are characterized by organic horizons that are most often less than one meter thick and a medium-textured subsoil that can contain sulfidic materials (AS). The need of research data arises from the fact that the existing information of the environmental load of farmed peatlands with shallow peat surface layer is limited. Also the role of acid soils is in this context unclear.
The research platform for organic soils can be modelled operate as a practical farm. It speeds up the transfer of research information not only to farmers but also to authorities responsible for giving future outlines for utilization of organic soils in agriculture. This operation model is also a relatively cost-effective, since research field is cultivated for needs of several individual projects, which makes possible to share maintenance costs between field experiments. Since projects can be planned to include also cattle feeding trials it gives an opportunity for studies which may cover the entire production chain. The utilization of the platform was designed from the beginning to be shared between several organizations. As a relatively unique research platform it has interested universities and R&D organizations and it is already now used by several organizations.
The main limitation is lack of experts. It is partly due to the nature of available research funding, which is given for a relatively short periods of time and does not ensure the continuation of jobs. The shortage of expert has in some extent been solved with starting a close co-operation with other research organizations. However, there is undeniably need for the following jobs: Researcher, who could co-ordinate co-operation in both ongoing research projects and in new projects when funding is applied. There is a need also for research technology orientated expert and for person in maintenance, data collection and handling.
Collection of drainage water (subsurface drainage water and surface runoff) automatic water sampling proportionally to the discharge volume, discharge volume is viewed on-line in the Internet, water analyses, GHG emissions (CO2, CH4, NO2) with chamber and eddy covariance measurements, nutrient inputs and outputs in crop production, complete weather data, cattle feeding trials, option for studies in greenhouse and utilisation of growth chambers.
Experiments duration: Weeks, Months, Years, Decades;
Total area: 700000 m²
Total area 70 ha, platform for organic soils 20 ha, area for other field experiments 50 haAvailable area: 0 m²
Varies annually, in case of limited field area we have rented extra field from the neighboring farmers.unit size: 0 m²
It varies from 20 to 2000 m2. Plot size in small-scale field trials are typically 20 m2, plot size in organic soils field is 20000 m2Replicates number: 4
at least 4
Electricity available on site.
Years measured: Mean values years 1981-2010
Mean Temperature: 2.6 °C
February Mean Temperature: -9 °C
July Mean Temperature: 15.9 °C
Mean Annual Speed: 3 m/s
Max. Annual Speed: m/s
Dominant Direction: 135 deg
Precipitation type: Both;
Total annual precipitation: 540 mm
Mean snow cover duration: days
| Variable | Ecosystem | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CO2 | Agrosystem | Active |
| Warming | Agrosystem | Active |
| Precip | Agrosystem | Active |
| Hydro | Agrosystem | Active |
| UV | Agrosystem | Active |
| Soileutroph | Agrosystem | Active |
| Watereutroph | Agrosystem | Active |
| Airpoll | Agrosystem | Active |
| Soilerosion | Agrosystem | Active |
| Management - Nutrients (levels or nutrient type) | Agrosystem | Active |
| Management - tilling or other physical manipulation | Agrosystem | Active |
| Management - pesticides (or other non-nutrient chemicals) | Agrosystem | Active |
| Management - conventional vs. organic or other eco-friendly practice | Agrosystem | Active |
| Management - rotation practice | Agrosystem | Active |
| Management - species and/or ecotype combinations | Agrosystem | Active |
| Management - traditional (or native) vs. new (or non-native) species | Agrosystem | Active |
| Pests | Agrosystem | Active |
| Biodiversity | Agrosystem | Active |
Up to 15 people
Up to 12 people
No visitors allowed.
No beds on site
Showers on site
Laundry on site