The movement of phosphorus (P) from agricultural fields to streams and deposition in the nearshore of the lake presents a continuum of related physical and chemical properties that act to partition P into different physico-chemical fractions. We investigated changes in soil and sediment P fractionation as material was eroded from predominantly agricultural fields, transported via stream sediments, and deposited in a nearshore lake environment. Total phosphorus content of the soils and sediment decreased from field soils with an average concentration of 553.81 mg P kg-1 to 202.28 mg P kg-1 in stream sediments to 67.47 mg P kg-1 in lake sediments. Significant changes in P fractionation occurred during erosion, transport, and deposition of the particulate or sediment phase. The fractionation of P within the soils and sediments changed significantly from aluminum and organic matter associated P dominant in field soils to calcium associated P dominant in nearshore lake sediments. Various physical and chemical processes appear to be responsible for these transformations which impact the mobility and bioavailability of P. A significant amount of P was lost from field soils as they were transported and deposited. This P has either become available to biota or deposited in deeper portions of the lake system. Ultimately, the impact of P export on the nearshore lake environment may be influenced by the changes in P fractionation that occurred during transport and deposition and by the influence of macrophytes on the biogeochemical cycling of P in the sediment.
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1 June 2009
Phosphorus Fractionation in Soil and Sediments Along a Continuum from Agricultural Fields to Nearshore Lake Sediments: Potential Ecological Impacts
Mark R. Noll,
Aimee E. Szatkowski,
Erin A. Magee
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Journal of Great Lakes Research
Vol. 35 • No. sp1
June 2009
Vol. 35 • No. sp1
June 2009
fractionation
macrophytes
Nearshore
phosphorus
sediment
soil