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Phosphorus Retention in Riparian Buffers: Review of Their Efficiency
Author(s) -
Hoffmann Carl Christian,
Kjaergaard Charlotte,
UusiKämppä Jaana,
Hansen Hans Christian Bruun,
Kronvang Brian
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2008.0087
Subject(s) - riparian zone , riparian buffer , biogeochemical cycle , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , tile drainage , water flow , groundwater , soil water , soil science , chemistry , environmental chemistry , ecology , geology , geotechnical engineering , biology , habitat
Ground water and surface water interactions are of fundamental importance for the biogeochemical processes governing phosphorus (P) dynamics in riparian buffers. The four most important conceptual hydrological pathways for P losses from and P retention in riparian buffers are reviewed in this paper: (i) The diffuse flow path with ground water flow through the riparian aquifer, (ii) the overland flow path across the riparian buffer with water coming from adjacent agricultural fields, (iii) irrigation of the riparian buffer with tile drainage water from agricultural fields where disconnected tile drains irrigate the riparian buffer, and (iv) inundation of the riparian buffer (floodplain) with river water during short or longer periods. We have examined how the different flow paths in the riparian buffer influence P retention mechanisms theoretically and from empirical evidence. The different hydrological flow paths determine where and how water‐borne P compounds meet and interact with iron and aluminum oxides or other minerals in the geochemical cycling of P in the complex and dynamic environment that constitutes a riparian buffer. The main physical process in the riparian buffer—sedimentation—is active along several flow paths and may account for P retention rates of up to 128 kg P ha −1 yr −1 , while plant uptake may temporarily immobilize up to 15 kg P ha −1 yr −1 Retention of dissolved P in riparian buffers is not as pronounced as retention of particulate P and is often below 0.5 kg P ha −1 yr −1 Several studies show significant release of dissolved P (i.e., up to 8 kg P ha −1 yr −1 ).