Tuesday, November 14, 2006
217-13

Stream Water and Sediment Phosphorus Equilibrium Concentrations in Ozark Streams.

Brian Haggard1, Kristofor Brye1, and Douglas Smith2. (1) Univ of Arkansas, 203 Engineering Hall, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept, Fayetteville, AR 72701, (2) USDA-ARS, 275 S Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2077

Little information is broadly available on the fate and transport of dissolved phosphorus (DP) in streams draining agricultural and urban catchments, although in-stream processes might have a substantial influence on downstream transport.  This study evaluated sediment-water P equilibrium concentrations (EPC0), sediment Mehlich 3 extractable elements and water chemistry across over 20 Ozark streams draining catchments with mixed land uses.  These data are currently be analyzed, but initial results show that sediment EPC0 were variable among sites and that sediment Mehlich 3 P was low compared to soil Mehlich 3 P content typical of Ozark pastures.