Monday, 7 November 2005 - 9:00 AM
115-1

Biogeochemistry of Wetland Soils: a Review of Five Decades of Research.

K. R. Reddy, University of Florida, Department of Soil and Water Science, 106 Newell Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611-0510

Wetland biogeochemistry is an interdisciplinary science that includes the study of physical, chemical, and biological processes, as related to the functions and values of wetland ecosystems. The fundamental framework for much of the wetland biogeochemistry research was provided by the basic research conducted on flooded rice soils. Dr. William H. Patrick was one of the poineers in the world initiated research to study physical, chemical, and biological processes of flooded rice soils, as related to plant nutrition. About five decades ago, Dr. Patrick initiated his research on Crowley silt loam, a soil predominantly used for rice culture in Louisiana and Arkansas, to study the concentration and movement of oxygen as related absorption of ammonium and nitrate by rice. During the next four decades, a number of studies were conducted by Dr. Patrick and his students and associates, to determine the influence of soil oxidation-reduction potential on the fate of various nutrients, metals, and toxic organics in flooded soils, using flooded Crowley silt loam as a ‘model' soil. The concepts and techniques developed using this ‘model' soil were used to study the fate of nutrients, metals, and organics in wetland, as related to ecosystem functions. In this paper I will review key findings of the research conducted on flooded Crowley silt loam soil and discuss the relevance of this research to our current understanding of wetland biogoechemistry.

Back to Symposium--Chemistry of Wetland Soils - Honoring the Work of Dr. Bill Patrick
Back to S10 Wetland Soils

Back to The ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings (November 6-10, 2005)