Abstract
The amounts of P forms transported in surface, accelerated subsurface, and subsurface runoff, and the stream draining a 20 ha area of a pasture watershed were measured for 3 yr. Stream-bank erosion and resuspension of stream sediment contributed the major proportion of the particulate P (PP), total P, and sediment transported annually in stream flow (86, 77, and 74%, respectively, in 1977). In addition, 29% of the annual dissolved inorganic P (DIP) loading of the stream in 1977 was attributed to the release of P from suspended in situ particulate material. Remarkably similar proportions of water, P forms, and sediment were contributed by the runoff types in each of the 3 yr of study. Subsurface runoff contributed the major proportion (67% in 1977) of stream flow. Although surface runoff contributed only a minor proportion of stream flow (11% in 1977), it contributed the major proportion of both DIP (32% in 1977) and PP loading (90% in 1977) compared with the other runoff types. Differences in the amounts of P forms transported in the three runoff types can be attributed to several factors, one of the most important being the time of contact between soluble P in runoff waters and soil components.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker, J. L., Campbell, K. L., Johnson, H. P., and Hanway, J. J.: 1975, J. Environ. Qual. 4, 406.
Benoit, G. R.: 1974, Water Resources Res. 9, 1296.
Bolton, E. F., Aylesworth, J. W., and Hare, F. R.: 1970, Can. J. Soil Sci. 50, 275.
Burwell, R. E., Schuman, G. E., Piest, R. F., Spomer, R. G., and McCalla, T. M.: 1974, Water Resources Res. 10, 359.
Burwell, R. E., Timmons, D. R., and Holt, R. F.: 1975, Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 39, 523.
Burwell, R. E., Schuman, G. E., Saxton, K. E., and Heineman, H. G.: 1976, J. Environ. Qual. 5, 325.
Carter, D. L., Bondurant, J. A., and Robbins, C. W.: 1971, Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 35, 331.
Gburek, W. J. and Heald, W. R.: 1974, Water Resources Res. 10, 113.
Hanway, J. J. and Laflen, J. M.: 1974, J. Environ. Qual. 3, 351.
Jackson, W. A., Asmussen, L. E., Hauser, E. W., and White, A. W.: 1973, J. Environ. Qual. 2, 480.
Johnson, H. P. and Moldenhauer, W. C.: 1970, in Agricultural Practices and Water Quality, Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames.
Kilmer, V. J., Gilliam, J. W., Lutz, J. F., Joyce, R. T., and Eklund, C. D.: 1974, J. Environ. Qual. 3, 214.
Kunishi, H. M., Taylor, A. W., Heald, W. R., Gburek, W. J., and Weaver, R. N.: 1972, J. Agric. Food Chem. 20, 900.
Kunkle, S. M. and Comer, G. M.: 1972, U.S.D.A. Pub. A.R.S. 41–188.
Lee, G. F.: 1973, Water Res. 7, 111.
Lusby, G. C., Reid, V. H., and Knipe, O. D.: 1971, U.S. Geol. Surv. Water-supply Paper 1532-D.
Mackenthun, K. M.: 1965, U.S. Dept. Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Div. of Water Supply and Pollution Control. U.S. Govt. Print. Office, Washington, D.C.
McColl, R. H. S., White, E., and Waugh, J. R.: 1975, N.Z. J. Sci. 18, 67.
Minshall, N. E., Nichols, M. J., and Witzel, S. A.: 1969, Water Resources Res. 5, 706.
Munn, D. A., McLean, E. O., Ramirez, A., and Logan, T. G.: 1973, Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 37, 428.
Nelson, D. W. and Romkens, M. J. H.: 1971, A.R.S., U. S. D. A., Purdue J. Paper No. 3968.
Ryden, J. C., Syers, J. K., and Harris, R. F.: 1973, Adv. Agron. 25, 1.
Schuman, G. E., Spomer, R. G., and Piest, R. F.: 1973, Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 37, 424.
Sharpley, A. N. and Syers, J. K.: 1976, N.Z. J. Sci. 19, 277.
Sharpley, A. N., Syers, J. K., and O'Connor, P. W.: 1976, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 6, 39.
Sharpley, A. N. and Syers, J. K.: 1978, N.Z. J. Agric. Res. 21
Timmons, D. R., Verry, E. S., Burwell, R. E., and Holt, R. F.: 1977, J. Environ. Qual. 6, 188.
Viets, F. G.: 1971, in Fertilizer Technology and Use. 2nd ed., R. A. Olson, T. J. Army, J. J. Hanway, and V. J. Kilmer (eds). Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., Wisconsin.
Wisler, G. O. and Brater, E. F.: 1949, in Hydrology. Wiley, London.
Zubriski, J. C., Dahanke, W. C., and Torkelson, R. A.: 1971, N. Dakota Agric. Exp. Sta. 28, 40.
Zwerman, P. J., Greenling, T., Klausner, S. D., and Lathwell, D. J.: 1972, Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 36, 134.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sharpley, A.N., Syers, J.K. Phosphorus inputs into a stream draining an agricultural watershed. Water Air Soil Pollut 11, 417–428 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283433
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283433