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 Reddy, K. R. Articles by Koch, M. S. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Reddy, K. R. Articles by Koch, M. S. Agricola Articles by Reddy, K. R. Articles by Koch, M. S.

Long-Term Nutrient Accumulation Rates in the Everglades

Soil and Water Science Dep., Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 106 Newell Hall, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611

R. D. DeLaune

Laboratory for Wetland Soils and Sediments, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA 70803

M. S. Koch

Dep. of Everglades Systems Research, South Florida Water Management District, P.O. Box 24680, West Palm Beach, FL 33416

*Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Anthropogenic nutrient inputs to the northern Everglades of Florida during the last three decades have resulted in alteration of vegetation and soil nutrient storage. Due to the nutrient-limited status of this ecosystem, increased loading may have altered the capacity for long-term nutrient accumulation. Our study was conducted to determine the potential long-term nutrient accumulation rates for this ecosystem along a gradient of nutrient loading. Accumulation rates were calculated using the vertical peat accretion rates, as determined by ¹³⁷Cs dating, and nutrient concentration profiles. Intact soil cores were obtained along a 15-km transect and evaluated as a function of distance from the inflow structure. Soil cores were sectioned into 1-cm-depth increments and analyzed for ¹³⁷Cs, P, N, C, and selected cations. Vertical accretion rates of peat decreased logarithmically with distance from the inflow, with rates of 1.1 cm yr^–1 at 0.3 km from the inflow to about 0.25 cm yr^–1 in unimpacted sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense Crantz-dominated areas. Phosphorus, N, and C accumulation rates in soil and floodwater total P concentrations also showed similar relationships. The P accumulation rates ranged from 0.54 to 1.14 g P m^–2 yr^–1 in cattail (Typha spp.)-dominated areas, and 0.11 to 0.25 g P m^–2 yr^–1 in sawgrass-dominated areas. The C/P and N/P accumulation ratios increased with distance from the inflow, suggesting that a greater proportion of P accumulated in the system, compared with C and N. Similar P retention coefficients were obtained when calculated using either changes in surface water total P concentration, or the long-term P accretion rates. These findings suggest that P was either directly adsorbed by soil or precipitated with Ca in the water column and deposited on the soil surface. This hypothesis was further supported by a highly significant correlation between P and Ca accretion rates, suggesting that Ca-bound P controls equilibrium concentrations in this ecosystem.

Florida Agric. Exp. Stn. Journal Series No. R-02740.

Received for publication May 13, 1992.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. R. White, K. R. Reddy, and J. Majer-Newman Hydrologic and Vegetation Effects on Water Column Phosphorus in Wetland Mesocosms Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 23, 2006; 70(4): 1242 - 1251. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Grunwald, R. Corstanje, B. E. Weinrich, and K. R. Reddy Spatial Patterns of Labile Forms of Phosphorus in a Subtropical Wetland J. Environ. Qual., January 5, 2006; 35(1): 378 - 389. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. L. Turner and S. Newman Phosphorus Cycling in Wetland Soils: The Importance of Phosphate Diesters J. Environ. Qual., September 8, 2005; 34(5): 1921 - 1929. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Castro, S. Newman, K. R. Reddy, and A. Ogram Distribution and Stability of Sulfate-Reducing Prokaryotic and Hydrogenotrophic Methanogenic Assemblages in Nutrient-Impacted Regions of the Florida Everglades Appl. Envir. Microbiol., May 1, 2005; 71(5): 2695 - 2704. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Castro, A. Ogram, and K. R. Reddy Phylogenetic Characterization of Methanogenic Assemblages in Eutrophic and Oligotrophic Areas of the Florida Everglades Appl. Envir. Microbiol., November 1, 2004; 70(11): 6559 - 6568. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. White and K. R. Reddy Nitrification and Denitrification Rates of Everglades Wetland Soils along a Phosphorus-Impacted Gradient J. Environ. Qual., November 1, 2003; 32(6): 2436 - 2443. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. F. DeBusk and K. R. Reddy Nutrient and Hydrology Effects on Soil Respiration in a Northern Everglades Marsh J. Environ. Qual., March 1, 2003; 32(2): 702 - 710. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Castro, K. R. Reddy, and A. Ogram Composition and Function of Sulfate-Reducing Prokaryotes in Eutrophic and Pristine Areas of the Florida Everglades Appl. Envir. Microbiol., December 1, 2002; 68(12): 6129 - 6137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. Wright and K. R. Reddy Heterotrophic Microbial Activity in Northern Everglades Wetland Soils Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., November 1, 2001; 65(6): 1856 - 1864. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W.F. DeBusk, S. Newman, and K.R. Reddy Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Soil Phosphorus Enrichment in Everglades Water Conservation Area 2A J. Environ. Qual., July 1, 2001; 30(4): 1438 - 1446. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.R. White and K.R. Reddy Influence of Selected Inorganic Electron Acceptors on Organic Nitrogen Mineralization in Everglades Soils Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 1, 2001; 65(3): 941 - 948. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H.K. Pant and K.R. Reddy Hydrologic Influence on Stability of Organic Phosphorus in Wetland Detritus J. Environ. Qual., March 1, 2001; 30(2): 668 - 674. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A.L. Wright and K.R. Reddy Phosphorus Loading Effects on Extracellular Enzyme Activity in Everglades Wetland Soils Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., March 1, 2001; 65(2): 588 - 595. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.M. Fisher and K.R. Reddy Phosphorus Flux from Wetland Soils Affected by Long-Term Nutrient Loading J. Environ. Qual., January 1, 2001; 30(1): 261 - 271. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J.R. White and K.R. Reddy Influence of Phosphorus Loading on Organic Nitrogen Mineralization of Everglades Soils Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., July 1, 2000; 64(4): 1525 - 1534. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. G. Qualls and C. J. Richardson Phosphorus Enrichment Affects Litter Decomposition, Immobilization, and Soil Microbial Phosphorus in Wetland Mesocosms Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., March 1, 2000; 64(2): 799 - 808. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J.R. White and K.R. Reddy Influence of Nitrate and Phosphorus Loading on Denitrifying Enzyme Activity in Everglades Wetland Soils Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., November 1, 1999; 63(6): 1945 - 1954. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]