Model catchments - crops and pesticide use
Farmers in the catchments are interviewed annually about their cropping practices and use of plant protection products. This is done to determine which substances should be included in the analyses and to compare the substances detected in water with those that are actually used.
Crops
All four catchments are dominated by cereal production, along with smaller areas of oilseed crops. Potatoes are grown in the Halland (N34) and Östergötland (E21) areas, while sugar beets are grown in Halland (N34) and Skåne (M42). Grassland (forage) is most prevalent in the Halland area (N34). In addition, maize and legumes are cultivated for fodder production, along with peas, which in some cases are grown for food consumption. Some of the catchment areas also have smaller cultivated areas with crops such as onions, carrots, and strawberries.
Pesticide use
In the model catchments of Halland (N34) and Skåne (M42) counties there has been a greater use of pesticides throughout the period 2002-2024 than in the two more northern model catchments of Västergötland (O18) and Östergötland (E21) counties. This can partly be explained by a longer growing season in the southern counties, but also partly other crops and to a certain extent a greater need for pest control. Overall, the annual variation, mainly in M42 and N34, in terms of the amount of plant protection product used per hectare, makes it difficult to see any trend.
