Access to lysimetric field

Located on a sandy soil field under conventional cattle farming, the leaching field enables both short- and long-term agricultural leaching studies. Research topics may include crops, fertilizers, plant protection, and soil amendments. The field allows for simultaneous monitoring of nutrient leaching into both groundwater and surface water, and can be combined with chamber measurements of greenhouse gases.

The leaching field consists of 16 separate plots, each with a lysimeter basin for groundwater collection and a trough for surface runoff. All water is directed to a lysimeter building equipped with water quality sensors and flow-proportional automatic water sampling.

From all lysimeters and surface runoff collectors, continuous flow (L/s) can be measured, and composite water samples can be collected. Additionally, pH and turbidity can be measured from individual plots. There is a weather station in the area, and soil moisture and frost depth during the winter can be measured regularly.

The leaching field, also known as Maaninka AgriLeach Eastern Finland, is part of the European AnaEE-ERIC infrastructure network for experimental ecosystem research.

The service includes access to the leaching field for research purposes, as well as equipment and professional staff to support experimental setups. It covers the preparation of necessary equipment and the field, execution of agreed measurements and observations, sample and data collection, and, if needed, sample pre-processing and delivery of results.

Observation of experiments, and collection and pre-processing of soil, plant, and water samples, as agreed.

Researchers, research groups, research communities, research networks, research projects, research organizations, companies.

• Physical, remote or hybrid access.
• Minimum reservation period: One hydrological year (1.6.– 31.5.)

• Import of plant pathogens, pests, and GMO plant material is only allowed in accordance with legislation and subject to case-by-case approval.
• Import of invasive alien species is prohibited. Introduction of other non-native species must be agreed upon separately.
• Use of chemicals must be negotiated separately.
• All plant material brought from outside for research must be accompanied by plant health certificates.
• Research must not cause long-term harm or reduce the usability of the infrastructure after the study period.
• Soil modifications and studies must be conducted with consideration for the lysimeter basins.

• Preceding crop, cultivated crop, fertilization, plant protection, number and timing of harvests, and harvesting method.
• Required samples before, during, and after the experiment.
• Number of treatments and replicates, and the duration of the experiment.
• Required observations and measurements during the experiment.