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Algal Availability of Phosphorus in Suspended Stream Sediments of Varying Particle Size¹

ABSTRACT

The availability of sediment P to algae was evaluated in several water stable aggregate-size fractions of suspended stream sediments collected from an agricultural watershed in northeastern Indiana. Sediments were collected during a storm event, separated into the <2, 2 to 20, 20 to 53, 53 to 212, and > 212 µm size fractions, sterilized by irradiation, and incubated for 2 weeks with algae. Algal-available P (P_aa) was determined by measuring decreases in the NaOH- and HCl-extractable inorganic P (P_i) fractions in sediment during the incubation period. The initial concentrations of P in the NaOH- and HCl-extractable P_i fractions were not related to aggregate size. All aggregate-size fractions had similar P_aa concentrations. Nearly equal proportions of sediment P_i (avg 79%) and total P (avg 43%) in aggregate fractions were available to algae, possibly resulting from the similar distribution of primary particle sizes in all aggregate-size fractions. More than 93% of P_aa originated in the NaOH-extractable P fraction. Samples that were affected by septic effluents tended to be higher in certain sediment P parameters (e.g., NaOH-extractable P_i, total P_i, total P, and P_aa concentrations) than samples containing suspended sediment derived from cropland. This study suggests that runoff models may not need to account for the detachment and transport of aggregate-size classes to predict the movement of algal-available P from cropland to surface waters.

Key Words: inorganic phosphorus • eutrophication • bioassay • agricultural watershed

¹ A contribution of the Indiana Agric. Exp. Stn., Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN 47907. Supported in part by Grant no. G00533501 from the Great Lakes Natl. Program Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago. Journal Paper no. 8947.

² Research Assistant and Professors, respectively, Agron. Dep., Purdue Univ. The senior author's current address is Monsanto Agric. Products Co., 360 Pierce Ave., North Mankato, MN 56001.

Received for publication November 18, 1982.

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