Stream-bed phosphorus in paired catchments with different agricultural land use intensity

Palmer-Felgate, Elizabeth J.; Jarvie, Helen P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4984-1607; Withers, Paul J.A.; Mortimer, Robert J.G.; Krom, Michael D.. 2009 Stream-bed phosphorus in paired catchments with different agricultural land use intensity. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 134 (1-2). 53-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2009.05.014

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2009.05.014

Abstract/Summary

Stream-bed sediments from three paired catchments, each draining a lower agricultural intensity system and a higher agricultural intensity system, were analysed for (a) total P (TP), (b) bioavailable-P (Resin-P), (c) equilibrium phosphorus concentration (EPC0), and (d) degree of phosphorus saturation (DPS). The influence of agriculture on sediment P was explored within the context of other key variables that may control the sediment P concentrations such as particle size, Fe, Ca and organic matter content, and in terms of potential implications of sediment P to in-stream biota. TP concentrations, EPC0, and the proportion of fine sediment were highest at the sites with the greater agricultural impact. Higher concentrations of bioavailable-P were also found in higher intensity agricultural systems. However, the highest concentrations of bioavailable-P were found at sites with point source inputs. Sites with high Fe concentrations had higher TP concentrations relative to agricultural intensity, but also had lower DPS values, illustrating that the sediment still had the capacity to take up P in a strongly bound form. The results from this study show that higher risk agricultural practices (intensive arable production and dairy and beef production) can lead either directly, or indirectly through increased inputs of fine sediment, to increased sediment TP concentrations. The importance of geochemical and physical controls on the bed sediments’ capacity to mitigate high P inputs in headwater lowland streams, especially under low flows and times of eutrophication risk in spring and summer is illustrated.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2009.05.014
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Water > WA02 Quantifying processes that link water quality and quantity, biota and physical environment
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Acreman
ISSN:	0167-8809
Additional Keywords:	Phosphorus, Sediment, Agriculture, Rivers, Equilibrium P concentration
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science Ecology and Environment Hydrology
Related URLs:	Author's Homepage
Date made live:	01 Dec 2009 14:50 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/7721

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2009.05.014

Programmes:

CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Water > WA02 Quantifying processes that link water quality and quantity, biota and physical environment

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Acreman

ISSN:

0167-8809

Additional Keywords:

Phosphorus, Sediment, Agriculture, Rivers, Equilibrium P concentration