scholarly journals Phosphorus Export From Two Contrasting Rural Watersheds in the (Sub) Humid Ethiopian Highlands

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feleke K. Sishu ◽  
Ayele M. Bekele ◽  
Petra Schmitter ◽  
Seifu A. Tilahun ◽  
Tammo S. Steenhuis

Establishing worldwide sustainable and phosphorus efficient cropping systems is urgently needed because the supply of suitable phosphate rock is limited, and excess phosphorus in streams causes eutrophication. One of the impediments in the developing world for sustainable P practices is the lack of studies on P transport and its eventual disposition in the environment. One of these regions with few studies is the Ethiopian Highlands, with permeable volcanic soils. The objective was to establish baseline data on P watershed export in the (sub)humid highlands. Two contrasting watersheds were selected near Lake Tana. For 2 years, stream discharge and sediment, total P, dissolved P, and bioavailable particulate P concentrations were determined at the watershed outlet. The first watershed is the 57 km2 Dangishta, with lava intrusion dikes, forcing subsurface flow through faults to the surface and preventing gully formation. Subsurface flow was half of the 1745 mm annual precipitation, and surface runoff and erosion were minimal. The second watershed is the 9 km2 Robit Bata with 1,420 mm precipitation. The banks of several river banks were slumping. The upper part of the watershed generates saturation excess runoff. A hillslope aquifer in the lower part provided interflow. The average sediment concentrations of 10.5 g L−1 in the stream in Robit Bata (11 times that in Dangishta) reflected the sediments from banks slipping in the stream. The hydrology and the soil loss directly affected the phosphorus export. In Dangishta, the total P concentration averaged 0.5 mg L−1 at the outlet. In Robit Bata, the average total P concentration was 2 mg L−1. The bioavailable particulate P concentration was only twice the concentration in the runoff water. The low phosphorus content of the subsoil slipping in Robit Bata moderated biologically available particulate P at the outlet. Average dissolved P concentrations for both watersheds were around 0.1 mg L−1 in the low range found in temperate climates. It reflects the difference in length of time that phosphorus fertilizers have been applied. Our research concludes that commonly implemented practices such as strengthening river banks and stabilizing gully might not lead to improved water quality in Lake Tana.

Soil Research ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 419 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Nash ◽  
Craig Murdoch

Losses of phosphorus (P) from grazed pastures in runoff can significantly reduce the water quality in streams draining agricultural catchments. Many preventative strategies depend for their success on the association of the P with large soil particles (>0·45 mm). We investigated the forms of P in runoff from a dairy pasture of high fertility. A 3·6-ha paddock at Darnum in West Gippsland, Victoria, was set up to measure runoff volume and rainfall, and to sample runoff water. Runoff from the site was restricted to 3 months in late winter and spring. Total runoff for 1994 of 660 m3 had an average total P concentration of 5·2 mg/L. Runoff from a single storm system over 8 days in early November accounted for 56% of the total runoff volume and 69% of the P lost. Of the total P in the runoff, 93% passed through a filter with 0·45-µm pores and 91% was reactive in an ascorbic acid–molybdate medium, without digestion; 89% of the P was both reactive in the ascorbic acid{molybdate medium and in the <0·45-µm fraction. There was no apparent relationship (P > 0·05) between P concentration and soil cover. In the Darnum catchment, the major runoff events occurred when the soil was saturated. The low settling velocities of materials <0·45 µm and the amount of P moving in larger storms would suggest that buffer strips and riparian zones are unlikely to decrease P losses substantially from dairy pastures in this area. Further, since erosion is unlikely to be the major process by which P is lost, control measures which simply limit erosion will be similarly ineffective at preventing P losses under the conditions that prevailed in this study.


Euphytica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 217 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Eifler ◽  
Jürgen Enno Wick ◽  
Bernd Steingrobe ◽  
Christian Möllers

AbstractPhytic acid is the major organic phosphorus storage compound in rapeseed. Following oil extraction, the defatted meal is used in feed mixtures for livestock. However, monogastric pigs and chickens can only poorly metabolize phytate. Hence, their excrements are rich in phosphorus (P), which when applied as manure may lead to eutrophication of surface waters. The aim of the present study was to analyze the genetic variation for total and organic P concentration (i.e. mainly phytate) in rapeseed and to compare the results with soybean. Two sets of rapeseed material were tested in field experiments in different environments with varying soil P levels and harvested seeds were used for seed quality analysis. Results revealed significant genotypic differences in total seed P concentration, which ranged from 0.47 to 0.94%. Depending on the experiment, the heritability for total P concentration ranged from 52 to 93%. The organic P portion of total P concentration was above 90% for current rapeseed hybrids. In both sets, there was a significant positive correlation between seed protein and P concentration. A NIRS calibration for total P concentration in intact seeds showed in cross validation a standard error of 0.05% and a coefficient of determination of R2 = 0.83. Total P concentration of soybean seeds and meal was between 0.55 and 0.65%, and around 1.1% for rapeseed meal. Rapeseed meal had a twofold higher ratio of total P to nitrogen concentration as compared to soybean which could be considered adverse when the meal is used for feeding livestock.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Zhu ◽  
Anchi Wu ◽  
Guoyi Zhou

AbstractPhosphorus (P) is an important element in terrestrial ecosystems and plays a critical role in soil quality and ecosystem productivity. Soil total P distributions have undergone large spatial changes as a result of centuries of climate change. It is necessary to study the characteristics of the horizontal and vertical distributions of soil total P and its influencing factors. In particular, the influence of climatic factors on the spatial distribution of soil total P in China’s forest ecosystems remain relatively unknown. Here, we conducted an intensive field investigation in different forest ecosystems in China to assess the effect of climatic factors on soil total P concentration and distribution. The results showed that soil total P concentration significantly decreased with increasing soil depth. The spatial distribution of soil total P increased with increasing latitude and elevation gradient but decreased with increasing longitude gradient. Random forest models and linear regression analyses showed that the explanation rate of bioclimatic factors and their relationship with soil total P concentration gradually decreased with increasing soil depths. Variance partitioning analysis demonstrated that the most important factor affecting soil total P distribution was the combined effect of temperature and precipitation factor, and the single effect of temperature factors had a higher explanation rate compare with the single effect of precipitation factors. This work provides a new farmework for the geographic distribution pattern of soil total P and the impact of climate variability on P distribution in forest ecosystems.


2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 121-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.K. Karunarathna ◽  
N. Tanaka ◽  
K.B.S.N. Jinadasa

Coconut dust, which is used intensively in horticultural applications, was tested as an external organic additive in a series of laboratory-scale subsurface-flow constructed wetlands planted with Phragmites australis. The systems were fed with a mixture of NO−3-N, NH+4-N, and SRP in tap water to simulate high nutrient loads. In the absence of plants, TN removal efficiency was 66%, and the efficiency increased to &gt;80% in the microcosm wetlands. TN and NO−3 removal efficiencies were marginally increased by coconut-dust treatment in comparison with sand-bed microcosms. Analysis by ANOVA showed that the TN removal from a coconut dust-supplemented sand-bed microcosm was significantly different from a sand-bed microcosm (0.0437 &lt; p&lt;0.05). All the systems showed an equal capacity to treat NH+4 nitrogen under low influent concentration levels. Phosphorus removal efficiencies were &gt;98% in all three systems, and a difference between planted and unplanted systems was not observed. Shoot height and shoot densities of P. australis grown in the coconut dust-supplemented medium were significantly higher than those grown in the sand-bed medium. The difference in P. australis growth in response to the coconut dust addition revealed that the added material has the potential to create favourable conditions for plant growth.


2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 643 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Robertson ◽  
J. F. Holland ◽  
S. Cawley ◽  
T. D. Potter ◽  
W. Burton ◽  
...  

Canola tolerant to the triazine group of herbicides is grown widely in Australian broad-acre cropping systems. Triazine-tolerant (TT) cultivars are known to have a yield and oil content penalty compared with non-TT cultivars. This study was designed to elucidate the crop physiological basis for the yield differences between the two types. Two commercial cultivars, near-isogenic for the TT trait, were compared in a detailed growth analysis in the field, and 22 crops were compared for phenology and crop attributes at maturity. In the growth analysis study, the TT trait was found to lower radiation use efficiency, which carried through to less biomass at maturity. There were minimal effects on leaf area development and harvest index, and no effect on canopy radiation extinction. Across the 22 crops, where yield varied from 240 to 3400 kg/ha in the non-TT cultivar, yield was on average 26% less in the TT cultivar due to less biomass produced, as there was no significant effect on harvest index. The difference in oil content (2-5%) was greater in low oil content environments. Flowering was delayed by 2-10 days with a greater delay being in later flowering environments. Quantification of the physiological attributes of TT canola allows the assessment of the productivity of different cultivar types across environments.


1997 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine S.M. Ku ◽  
David R. Hershey

Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch `V-14 Glory') grown as single-pinched plants and received constant fertigation of Hoagland solution with N at 210 mg·L-1 of 100% NO3-N or 60% NO3-N : 40% NH4-N; P at 7.8 and 23 mg·L-1; and leaching fractions (LFs) of 0, 0.2, or 0.4. The P at 23 mg·L-1 used in this study was about half the P concentration typically provided from a 20N-4.4P-16.6K fertilizer at 200 mg·L-1 N fertigation. The total P applied via fertigation ranged from 51 mg at the 0 LF to 360 mg at the 0.4 LF. The leachate P concentration ranged from 0.2 to 46 mg·L-1. With P at 7.8 mg·L-1, the percentage of total P recovered in the leachate was 6% to 7%. At 23 mg·L-1 P fertigation, however, the total P recovered in the leachate with 60% NO3-N treatment was 2-times greater than with 100% NO3-N treatment. This result is attributed to a lower substrate pH, which resulted from NH4-N uptake and nitrification processes with 60% NO3-N fertigation. The P concentration in the recently matured leaves with 7.8 mg·L-1 P fertigation was in the normal range of 0.3% to 0.6%. Fertigation P can be reduced by up to 80% and still be sufficient for producing quality poinsettias. Reducing the fertigation P concentration is beneficial because it reduces P leaching, reduces fertilizer costs, and reduces luxury consumption.


2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurea L. Lemes da Silva ◽  
Mariana C. Hennemann ◽  
Mauricio M. Petrucio

Temporal and spatial variations of organic and inorganic forms of phosphorus in the sediments of a subtropical oligo-mesotrophic shallow lake were investigated in relation to water column parameters, sediment characteristics and benthic fauna. The main results found were: 1) Phosphorus (P)  concentration varied seasonally, with organic P and total P  increasing in the sediments in warmer periods; 2) Sediment spatial variation, in terms of grain size composition and organic matter content, influenced P concentrations; 3) quantities and qualities of P in the sediments were positively correlated with water parameters, especially DO and NO3, Chl-a,  water temperature, pH, and total P. Negative correlations were observed between %OP and DO in sites 1, 3 and 4, and with NO3 in sites 2, 3 and 4; 4) benthic functional feeding groups showed significant relationships with temporal variation in sediment P concentration, including gathering-collectors, shredders, filterers and filtering-collectors. The results suggest a high importance of temperature mediated control of sediment-P release, both directly, through its direct effects on primary production and decomposition rates, and indirectly through its effects on other water and sediment parameters, especially dissolved oxygen concentration.


1976 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Wong ◽  
B. Clark

Many streams in southern Ontario experience excessive seasonal growth of aquatic plants such as Cladophora and Potamogeton. A direct relation, with a regression coefficient of 0.87, was observed between ambient P concentration in the water and P content of plant tissue in six rivers. Critical or growth controlling total P concentration of 60 μg/liter in stream water and 1.6 mg/gram dry weight in plant tissue were determined. Unlike P, no significant correlation was observed between N content of plant tissue and N concentration in water. The correlation of total P with plant growth can be used to estimate the waste load which would result in maximum growth rate of Cladophora.


2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Beauchemin ◽  
R. R. Simard ◽  
M. A. Bolinder ◽  
M. C. Nolin ◽  
D. Cluis

Subsurface drainage systems can be a significant pathway for P transfer from some soils to surface waters. The objective of the study was to determine P concentration in tile-drainage water and its relationship to P status in surface soils (A horizons) from an intensively cultivated area in the Montreal Lowlands. The profiles of 43 soil units were characterized for their P contents and pedogenic properties. Tile-drainage water P concentrations were monitored over a 3-y r period on a weekly basis on 10 soil units, and four times during each growing season for the other 33 units. The soil units were grouped into lower and higher P sorbing soils using multiple discriminant equations developed in an earlier related study. The A horizons of the lower P sorbing soils had an elevated P saturation degree [mean Mehlich(III) P/Al = 17%] associated with total P concentrations in tile-drainage water consistently greater than the surface water quality standard of 0.03 mg total P L-1. Conversely, low P concentrations in tile-drainage waters (< 0.03 mg L-1) and a moderate mean Mehlich(III) P/Al ratio of 8% were observed in the higher P sorbing soil group. Total P concentrations in drainage systems were significantly related to soil P status in surface soils. Grouping soils according to their P sorption capacities increased the power of prediction based on only one soil variable. However, accurate predictions in terms of drain P concentration can hardly be obtained unless large dataset and other factors related to field management practices and hydrology of the sites are also considered. Therefore, a better alternative to predict the risk of P leaching is to work in terms of risk classes and rely on a multiple factor index. Key words: Tile-drainage water, phosphorus, P transfer, P loss, degree of soil P saturation, phosphorus index


Soil Research ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Loch ◽  
TE Donnollan

Size distributions of the solids in runoff water were measured for two clay soils subjected to simulated rain under a range of plot lengths and two tillage orientations. Selective transport did not appear to have affected the sediment size distributions. Therefore, these could be used as a measure of soil structure and aggregate breakdown by rainfall and runoff. There was little dispersed clay, most of the sediment remaining aggregated. For each soil, sediment size distributions were bimodal, peaks in sediment size being related to orders of aggregation in each soil. Concentrations of dispersed clay provide evidence that stresses on aggregates moved by rain impact on flowing water were greater than on those moved in rills by flowing water alone. Consistent with this, sediment size distributions showed much less breakdown to sizes <0.125 mm in rills. Suspended load (sediment < 20 �m) showed little temporal fluctuation, and little or no decrease with time, suggesting that for these soils, aggregate disruption by raindrops and overland flow provides a continuous source of suspendable material. Bed-load was more variable and saltating and contact load appeared to be complementary to some extent. Large differences between the two soils in measured sediment concentrations could not be explained by slight differences in sediment size. However, large differences between the soils in the water content and density of saturated aggregates were found. Transport equations for bed-load sediment suggest that the measured difference in aggregate density is sufficient to explain the difference between the soils in rates of sediment transport.


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