Fånggrödor i Norra Östersjöns vattendistrikt
70 % of the lakes and waters in the water district of northern Baltic Sea do not reach the
requirements for good ecological status. This is mostly due to eutrophication caused by a too
high deliverance of nutrients from agricultural land or effluents. Losses of particulate
phosphorus through water erosion contribute to a great extent to this eutrophication. In the
action plan for the water district cover crops are mentioned as a measure for reducing losses
of phosphorus from arable land. This paper reviews the possible effect of cover crops in the
water district and discusses what crop that would be most suitable. Since the biggest losses of
particulate phosphorus occur during late autumn and early spring, cover crops would
preferable be left over the winter and not broken until spring. The most suitable crops are
forage radish or oil-seed radish since they die due to freezing during winter and therefore not
complicate or delay spring tillage the following year. The cover crops not only help to protect
the soil surface, they also lead to an improved soil structure, break up compacted soil and
reduce the pressure from weeds and diseases.