Modeling the impact of potential wetlands on phosphorus retention in a Swedish catchment.
In southern Sweden, wetlands are constructed to remove nitrogen (N) in agricultural catchments. The possible effects of such wetlands on riverine phosphorus (P) were also estimated using input-output data from three well-monitored wetlands. This was done to formulate a simple model for removal of P that is dependent on inflow characteristics. Next, the N- and P-reducing effects of wetlands were modeled on a catchment scale (1900 km2) using the HBV-NP model and various assumptions about the wetland area and location. All three wetlands functioned as sinks for total P (tot-P) and for total suspended solids (TSS) with a removal of 10% to 31% and 28% to 50%, respectively. Mean P-removal rates of 17-49 kg ha(-1) yr(-1) were well simulated with the model. Catchment scale simulations indicated that wetlands were more efficient (in percentage of load) as traps for P than for N and that this may motivate the construction of wetlands for P removal far upstream from the catchment outlet.
Tonderski
Karin S
KS
IFM-Section Biology, Linköping University, Sweden. karsu@ifm.liu.se
Arheimer
Berit
B
Pers
Charlotta B
CB
D003198:Computer Simulation; D004777:Environment; D005843:Geography; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013548:Sweden; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus