Last update
2025
Summary
The case study is located in the north central Poland, in Kuyavian-Pomeranian province. The catchment area is about 150 km2. Due to highly fertile soils, arable land prevails (nearly 90%) in the catchment. The main crops are cereals, maize, oilseed rape, sugar beet, alfalfa, vegetables and herbal crops. An area covered by catch crops is increasing. Share of irrigated crops is small. The catchment is coping with an increasing water deficit for crop production and high nitrate loads and concentrations in water. These problems are amplified by low precipitation (annual average equals to 500 mm being the lowest in the country, 300 mm in the growing season) and the extensive drainage system (open ditches and subsurface tiles) that drains water excess in wet periods.The OPTAIN project will support the case study team with identifying and developing efficient land management strategies and small technical solutions to improve the soils’ infiltration and water holding capacities as well as its capacity to filter, buffer and transform pollutants.
Position
Latitude
52.59696
Longitude
18.72744
Project
OPTAIN
National Id
PL_04
Implementation Status
Modeled
Contact
Tymoteusz Bolewski and Wiesława Kasperska-Wołowicz, Institute of Technology and Life Sciences (ITP), Poland; Marek Giełczewski, Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Photo gallery
Location of the project
Central Poland, Kuyavian-Pomeranian province, Radziejów county (predominantly)
NUTS Code
PL61 - Kujawsko-Pomorskie
Sponge Measure(s) implemented in the case study
OPTAIN's measures
Involved Partners
| Authority type | Authority name | Role | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Climate
Climate zone
cool temperate dry
Annual Averages:
Precipitation
500
Temperature
9.2°C ( 1991/12020)
Evapotranspiration
620 mm (510 mm in the growing season) - reference evapotranspiration according to Penman-Monteith formula
Runoff
50 mm
Geography
Slope range
flat (0 - 2%) to gentle (3 - 5%)
Soil type
Luvisols
Phaeozem
Groundwater level
Depend on the location: from 1.0 to 3.0 m; average 1.5-2.0 m
Vegetation class
Arable crops (mostly cereals, maize, sugar beet and vegetables)
Water quality
Water bodies: Ecological Status
In general: Moderate: Some deviation from natural conditions, but functional. Some water bodies in the catchment are in poor/bad status.
Water bodies: Chemical Status
Poor: The chemical quality of the water is suboptimal, with some pollution detected.
Site Information Summary
Small agricultural catchment locted in lowland area with limited water resources. Due to intensive agriculture - problems with surface and ground water quality. Potential sites for implementation some mearsures have been proposed in modelling.
Scale of the project
Project scale
Meso
Project scale specification
Meso-scale (catchment scale modelling); micro-scale (field modelling).
Lifespan
unknown
Size of the project
Project area
ca. 150 km2
Area specifications
Rural area
Catchment area
150
Design land use change
| Land use change type | Comment |
|---|---|
|
no land use change |
Design and implementation summary
In OPTAIN project as modelling study - not applicable. Long and complicated administrative procedures necessary to obtain water-legal permits and building permits; lack of acceptance by neighbouring land owners. Most popular among farmers are direct, area and agri-environmental subsidies.
Total cost
Total costs depend on kind of implemented measures, specific location, catchments characteristic, climate and crop rotation. For example, the estimated cost of subsoiling 1 hectare is up to 100 EUR and up to 80 EUR per ha for mulching.
Financing authorities
| Authority name | Type of funding | Financing share | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EU-funds: Rural development funds
|
Potentially
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National funds
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Potentially
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Local funds
|
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Private funds
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Policy and general governance summary
Mulching is included into EU Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) standards refering to the sustainable agriculture. Using this measure allow to reach the targets of the Nitrate Directive.
Land ownership
The land is owned mainly by local farmers. The Zlowiaczka river basin is located in central Poland, western of Warsaw. The basin is characterized by a strong agricultural presence, with 90% of the land being arable, and only 4% forested.
Wider plan type
| Wider plan type | Wider plan focus | Name | Comments |
|---|
Policy target
| Target purpose | |
|---|---|
|
Pollutants Removal
|
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Oher Societal Benefits
|
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Erosion Control
|
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Increase Water Storage
|
Policy impact
| Impact directive | Relevant impact |
|---|
Community involvment
Yes
Policy pressure
| Pressure directive | Relevant pressure | |
|---|---|---|
Requirement directive
| Requirement directive | Specification | |
|---|---|---|
|
Nitrate Directive (NiD) 91/676/EEC
|
|
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|
WFD-achievement of good chemical status
|
Contractual arrangements
0
Design contractual arrangement
| Arrangement type | Responsibility | Role | Name | Comments |
|---|
Design consultation activity
| Activity stage | Name | Key issues | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Design phase
|
MARG- Multi-actor reference group
|
Of the 19 informants interviewed, all agreed that policy mechanisms were not adapted to resolving the environmental and water quantity concerns of stakeholders.
|
Surveys were carried out with stakeholders to better understand barriers and challenges to implementing NWRM in the agricultural sector.
|
Policy area
| Policy area type | Policy area focus | Name | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Primary
|
Water Framework Directive
|
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|
Primary
|
Common Agricultural Policy
|
Common Agricultural policy
|
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|
Primary
|
Nitrate Directive
|
Monitoring and Maintenance Summary
In the OPTAIN project model simulations were performed. Regarding agrotechnical measures in the Zgłowiączka river catchment, mulching was included in the modeling and impact of this measure was not tested on the ground.
WFD ecological status obj quantity
Moderate: Some deviation from natural conditions, but functional. Some water bodies in the catchment are in poor/bad status.
Key lessons
Surveys were carried out with stakeholders to better understand barriers and challenges to implementing NWRM in the agricultural sector. Of the 19 informants interviewed, all agreed that policy mechanisms were not adapted to resolving the environmental and water quantity concerns of stakeholders.
Success factor(s)
| Success factor type | Success factor role | Comments | Order |
|---|
Driver
| Driver type | Driver role | Comments | Order |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Availability of subsidies
|
main driver
|
Sufficient funding
|
|
|
Other
|
main driver
|
Awareness of enironmental benefits and protection of soil quality and water resources (quantity and quality) in the region
|
Lessons learned Summary
In OPTAIN project as modelling study - not applicable. Potentially: Increase of knowledge and awarness on low water resources and quality problems and measures possible to implement.
The in-depth description of the case study