HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cooper, J. R. Articles by Gilliam, J. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Cooper, J. R. Articles by Gilliam, J. W. Agricola Articles by Cooper, J. R. Articles by Gilliam, J. W.

Phosphorus Redistribution from Cultivated Fields into Riparian Areas¹

ABSTRACT

The accumulation of P in sediments deposited within riparian areas was measured to study the role of these areas as P sinks. The sediments originated from the cultivated fields and forests of the uplands and were deposited during the last 20 to 25 years. The riparian areas were studied in the Atlantic Coastal Plain and consisted of four field-forest edges, four ephemeral streams and four flood plains of intermittent streams that flowed into a flood plain swamp. Selective sorting and deposition of sand and silt near the field-forest edge (0–20 m) and clay deposition downstream (1–4 km) on the flood plains and swamps explained much of the total P distribution in the riparian areas. The P in the sediments increased with percent clay, R² = 0.80. Laboratory measurements of the equilibrium phosphorus concentration (EPC) in flood plain swamp sediments were two to three times higher than P concentrations in the overlying water (1.0 vs. 0.4 µmol P L^–1) during high flow stages of winter and spring. During summer and fall the ortho-P concentrations of isolated pools and base flow ranged from 1.0 to 1.3 µmol P L^–1. Approximately 260 kmol of P were deposited in the riparian areas of the 1850 ha watershed during the past 20 to 25 years. The amount of P deposited was equal to the amount estimated to have been removed from the watershed in the drainage water. Thus about 50% of the P leaving agricultural fields appeared to be removed from the runoff water in the riparian areas. Riparian areas between the field edge and a perennial stream were sinks for P because of the continual deposition of fresh sediment from upland areas.

¹ Paper no. 10826 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agric. Res. Serv., Raleigh, NC 27695-7601. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agric. Res. Serv. of the products named nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.

² Former Graduate Research Assistant and Professor, Dep. of Soil Science, respectively.

Received for publication December 22, 1986.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Kronvang, M. Bechmann, H. Lundekvam, H. Behrendt, G. H. Rubaek, O. F. Schoumans, N. Syversen, H. E. Andersen, and C. C. Hoffmann Phosphorus Losses from Agricultural Areas in River Basins: Effects and Uncertainties of Targeted Mitigation Measures J. Environ. Qual., November 7, 2005; 34(6): 2129 - 2144. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. H. Franklin, J. L. Steiner, M. L. Cabrera, and E. L. Usery Distribution of Inorganic Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations in Stream Flow of Two Southern Piedmont Watersheds J. Environ. Qual., November 1, 2002; 31(6): 1910 - 1917. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. B. Craft and C. Chiang Forms and Amounts of Soil Nitrogen and Phosphorus Across a Longleaf Pine-Depressional Wetland Landscape Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., September 1, 2002; 66(5): 1713 - 1721. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. P. Udawatta, J. J. Krstansky, G. S. Henderson, and H. E. Garrett Agroforestry Practices, Runoff, and Nutrient Loss: A Paired Watershed Comparison J. Environ. Qual., July 1, 2002; 31(4): 1214 - 1225. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. M. Stoeckel and M. S. Miller-Goodman Seasonal Nutrient Dynamics of Forested Floodplain Soil Influenced by Microtopography and Depth Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 1, 2001; 65(3): 922 - 931. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. D. Bridgham, C. A. Johnston, J. P. Schubauer-Berigan, and P. Weishampel Phosphorus Sorption Dynamics in Soils and Coupling with Surface and Pore Water in Riverine Wetlands Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., March 1, 2001; 65(2): 577 - 588. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. O. Young and D. S. Ross Phosphate Release from Seasonally Flooded Soils: A Laboratory Microcosm Study J. Environ. Qual., January 1, 2001; 30(1): 91 - 101. [Abstract] [Full Text]