Halting the upward trend in soluble phosphorus transported from a grassland catchment.
An upward trend in soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentrations in Northern Ireland rivers leading to increased eutrophication has been reported for the last two decades. To identify if a similar trend could be observed in land drainage waters SRP and other P fractions were measured weekly from 1989 to 1997 in land drainage from a 9-ha grassland catchment in Northern Ireland that had a mean P surplus applied of 23.4 kg P ha(-1) yr(-1). Regressions of annual median concentrations of P fractions in land drainage waters against time for 1989 through to 1997 showed significant increases of SRP and soluble unreactive phosphorus (SUP) of 2.4 and 1.2 microg P L(-1) yr(-1), respectively. However, the annual flow-weighted concentrations and loads of all P fractions did not show significant increases with time. During the period 1998-2000 a change of management was introduced when only maintenance dressings of P were applied to the catchment according to Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food guidelines. This resulted in significant reductions in SRP concentrations in 2000 compared with 1997.
Smith
R V
RV
Agricultural and Environmental Science Division, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Science Centre, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, United Kingdom. roger.smith@dardni.gov.uk
Lennox
S D
SD
Bailey
J S
JS
D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009660:Northern Ireland; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*
D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus