The Role of Gypsum Soil Amendments in Reducing Coastal Nutrient Run-off in Finland

The document examines the use of gypsum, an industrial by-product from phosphorus fertilizer extraction, to mitigate nutrient pollution in the Baltic Sea. Pilot projects in Finland, including Project SAVE and research in the River Vantaanjoki basin, indicate that gypsum improves soil structure and reduces phosphorus losses to waterways by approximately 50%. While the practice is recommended for coastal drainage areas, researchers caution against its use in lake drainage basins or groundwater recharge areas due to the risk of sulfate loading and subsequent eutrophication. Large-scale application across Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Poland could potentially achieve 10% of the phosphorus reductions targeted by the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan.

• The application of gypsum to agricultural fields reduces phosphorus run-off into nearby waterways by approximately 50% by improving soil structure and enhancing phosphorus binding to the soil.
• Large-scale adoption of gypsum soil amendments in the coastal drainage areas of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Poland could reduce annual phosphorus loads by 2,000 tonnes, representing roughly 10% of the total reductions required by the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan.
• In Finland, approximately 540,000 hectares of farmland in coastal river basins flowing to the Archipelago Sea are considered viable for gypsum application, which constitutes about one-quarter of the country's arable lands and could reduce phosphorus loads by 300 tonnes per year.
• Gypsum application poses a risk of excess sulfate loading, which can increase phosphorus release from bottom sediments in freshwater lakes; consequently, researchers advise against its use in groundwater recharge areas or lake drainage basins.
• The use of gypsum addresses two issues simultaneously: it provides a reuse option for industrial waste produced by Yara International at its Siilinjärvi mine and helps the Finnish government meet its goals for restoring Baltic Sea water quality.

APA

Rasmussen, M., Koskiaho, J., Tattari, S., Barquet, K., & Rosemarin, A. (2020). The Role of Gypsum Soil Amendments in Reducing Coastal Nutrient Run-off in Finland. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bonusreturn-policybrief2020-finland-eng.pdf

Chicago

Rasmussen, Mark, Jari Koskiaho, Sirkka Tattari, Karina Barquet, and Arno Rosemarin. The Role of Gypsum Soil Amendments in Reducing Coastal Nutrient Run-off in Finland. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2020. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bonusreturn-policybrief2020-finland-eng.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Rasmussen |first1=Mark |last2=Koskiaho |first2=Jari |last3=Tattari |first3=Sirkka |last4=Barquet |first4=Karina |last5=Rosemarin |first5=Arno |title=The Role of Gypsum Soil Amendments in Reducing Coastal Nutrient Run-off in Finland |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=February 2020 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bonusreturn-policybrief2020-finland-eng.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rasmussen2020role, author = {Rasmussen, Mark and Koskiaho, Jari and Tattari, Sirkka and Barquet, Karina and Rosemarin, Arno}, title = {{The Role of Gypsum Soil Amendments in Reducing Coastal Nutrient Run-off in Finland}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2020}, month = feb, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bonusreturn-policybrief2020-finland-eng.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }