Agricultural History Review, Volume 38 Part 2 (1990), pp. 127–148

This article discusses ecological features during the nineteenth century in the southernmost part of Sweden (Scania). In the beginning of the nineteenth century the old system where hay-producing meadows created natural manure, gradually disappeared as arable land was extended. As artificial fertilizers were not introduced until the end of the century, this created, theoretically, an impossible situation. The paper discusses several ways of overcoming this fertilizer problem, but sees the flooding of meadows as the only technique which had a positive effect on all major elements. The flooding technique is described and its introduction in Scania is mapped. The use of watermeadows increased production fundamentally, but nevertheless, most systems were abandoned at the beginning of our century when artificial fertilizers became available on a large scale. The paper shows that between 1850 and 1890 there was a gap between the need and production of natural manure, and at this time the production of hay on the watermeadows was of utmost importance. The article concludes with a suggestion that watermeadows should be introduced in modern agriculture. This would be of double advantage: it could both act as a sink for phosphorus and nitrogen, and reduce the need for artificial fertilizers. 

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