Speciation of Phosphorus from Agricultural Muck Soils to Stream and Lake Sediments

Abstract

The nature and management of agricultural soils can influence the forms of legacy P present in affected sediments; however, few studies have specifically characterized P in sediments affected by polder agriculture. In this study, the speciation of P as it flows from the muck soils of the Holland Marsh to the sediments of the West Holland River and Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, was investigated. The distribution of P fractions and the characterization of organic P were analyzed by the sequential fractionation method and solution P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. Organic P was the predominant P form (∼58% of total P) in muck soils, whereas the redox-sensitive P fraction was predominant in surface stream sediments rich in organic matter (∼41-48% of total P), despite these sediments exhibiting near-neutral pH and high concentrations of both Ca and P. The proportion of relatively recalcitrant organic P forms was much greater in the muck soils than that exhibited by both stream and lake sediments. The decreasing proportion of recalcitrant organic P forms in sediments downstream from the Holland Marsh indicated the potential for faster organic P cycling. Our findings support the notion that diesters and pyrophosphate should be monitored, in addition to loosely bound inorganic P, due to their potential impact on water quality. The unique environment of the streams and lake area is considered to be particularly vulnerable to excessive fertilizer P use in adjacent croplands.

New Insights Into Legacy Phosphorus From Fractionation of Streambed Sediment

“…The observed TP content (g/kg DW) in this study (0.073–2.00) was within previously reported ranges for both lake sediment (0.66–8.5 g/kg DW; Boström et al, 1988; Rydin, 2000; Søndergaard et al, 1996; Zhang et al, 2013) and streambed sediment (0.155–2.00 g/kg DW, Audette et al, 2018; Dorioz et al, 1998; Noll et al, 2009; Palmer‐Felgate et al, 2009; SanClements et al, 2009). Most of the variation in TP content was between sites, with no clear separation between streams and lakes.…”

“…Sequential extraction has been widely used to identify P fractions, and their potential mobility, in lake sediments (Boström et al, 1988; Rydin, 2000; Søndergaard et al, 1996; Zhang et al, 2013). In a few cases, sequential extraction has also been used for streambed sediment (Audette et al, 2018; Noll et al, 2009; SanClements et al, 2009).…”

Mobility and Bioavailability of Sediment Phosphorus in Urban Stormwater Ponds

“…We found significant quantities of P in the sediments of stormwater ponds, which has also been reported in urban ponds in Minnesota, USA (Olsen, ). In our study region, a large fraction of P in the sediments of nearby wetlands and streams was also found as organic P (Audette et al, ). We found that much of this organic P was mobile and released from sediment regardless of water column oxygenation.…”

Impact of Hydrofluoric Acid Treatment on Humic Acid Properties Extracted from Organic Soils and an Organic Amendment: A Technical Evaluation

“…Three source materials were investigated; (1) turkey litter compost (TLC), (2) an agricultural organic soil (AOS) from Holland Marsh, Bradford Ontario, Canada (Terric Humisol, Canadian System of Soil Classification), and (3) a riparian soil (RS) from the rare Charitable Research Reserve site in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada (Gray Brown Luvisol, Canadian System of Soil Classification). The detailed characteristics of the TLC and AOS samples were previously reported by Audette et al (2015) and Audette et al (2018), respectively. A first chemical survey of the RS sample was performed with a tabletop scanning electron microscope (HITACHI TM3000) equipped with an energy dispersive x‐ray spectrometer (Bruker).…”