Bella Strid

In my project, I investigate 15 irrigation reservoirs located in Skåne, Kalmar, Öland, and Gotland.

Most agricultural land in Sweden relies on rainfall and lacks irrigation infrastructure. Extended dry periods, unreliable precipitation, and rising temperatures are already negatively affecting agriculture, and the security of water supplies needs to be strengthened. One potential solution is constructed irrigation reservoirs, where rainwater and surface runoff can be stored for later use.

How do these reservoirs affect the hydrology of the landscape? How many irrigation reservoirs can be accommodated within a catchment area? Can the reservoirs capture nutrient losses and thereby reduce eutrophication in the Baltic Sea? Can the captured nutrients be recovered and reused on agricultural fields?