| Resource Name |
Soil, surface water and ground water phosphorous relationships in a partially harvested Boreal Plain aspen catchment |
| Unique File Number |
333 |
| Information Type |
applied Research |
| Surface Water |
A |
| Aquatic Ecosystem |
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| Groundwater |
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| Groundwater & Surface Water |
A |
| Management for Natural & Industrial Hazards |
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| Strengths |
groundwater-surface water interactions and phosphorous movement |
| Limitations |
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| Challenges |
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| Outstanding Research Questions |
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| Outstanding Research Questions |
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| Information Subtype |
boreal hydrology |
| Organization |
TROLS Project |
| Resource Name |
Macrae, ML et al. 2005. Soil, surface water and ground water phosphorous relationships in a partially harvested Boreal Plain aspen catchment. Forest Ecology and Management 206: 315-329. |
| Resource Purpose |
Soil phosphorus (water-extractable) measured in harvested and forested areas of a headwater aspen forested catchment in north-central Alberta was related to surface and ground water total dissolved phosphorus (TDP). No differences in water-extractable soil phosphorus concentrations ([ext-P]) were observed between harvested and forested areas. Topographic position explained most of the variance in the [ext-P] of surface soils. Soil [ext-P] in surface horizons was large in upslope areas compared to low-lying areas, ephemeral draws, and wetlands. Forest floor and surface organic soils (0–10 cm) had greater concentrations of ext-P (>70 μg g−1) and total P (tot-P) (>1000 μg g−1) than mineral soils ([ext-P] <2 μg g−1 and [tot-P] <300 μg g−1). Phosphorus buffering capacity was small in organic surface soils (EPC0 > 5000 μg L−1) and large in mineral soils (EPC0 A horizon = 100–400 μg L−1; EPC0 B horizon < 100 μg L−1). This was reflected in greater levels of TDP in surface water (range = 2–2350 μg L−1, median = 85 μg L−1) and soil water (range = 22–802 μg L−1, median = 202 μg L−1) which flowed through organic soils, compared with small concentrations of TDP in ground water which flowed through mineral soils (range = 0–1705 μg L−1, median = 23 μg L−1). Our results indicate that increases in ground water TDP following harvest are unlikely due to the large adsorption affinity of mineral soils. Phosphorus-rich surface soils have a large potential for phosphorus release to surface water but this does not differ between harvested and forested areas. Sub-humid climatic conditions and rapid aspen regeneration lead to soil moisture deficits and limited surface runoff which may reduce harvesting effects on P mobilization on the Boreal Plain. |
| Type of Information |
article |
| How does this help decision making? |
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| Program Status |
complete |
| NE Coverage |
boreal Plains |
| Drinking Water |
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| Ecosystem |
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| Fish |
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| Groundwater |
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| Public Safety |
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| SW Quality |
Y |
| SW Quantity |
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| Link |
http://www.uwo.ca/biology/faculty/creed/PDFs/Journal%20Articles/023%20Macrae%20et%20al%202005%20-%20Soil.pdf |
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| Contact Email |
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