HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vaughan, R. E. Articles by Allen, A. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vaughan, R. E. Articles by Allen, A. L. Agricola Articles by Vaughan, R. E. Articles by Allen, A. L. Related Collections Water Quality Redox Processes Pedology

TECHNICAL REPORTS

Wetlands and Aquatic Processes

Vertical Distribution of Phosphorus in Agricultural Drainage Ditch Soils

^a Dep. Environmental Science and Technology, Univ. of Maryland, 1109 H.J. Patterson Hall, College Park, MD 20742
^b USDA-ARS, Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, University Park, PA 16802
^c Dep. of Agriculture, Univ. of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD, 21853

^* Corresponding author (bneed{at}umd.edu).

Received for publication November 8, 2006. Pedological processes such as gleization and organic matter accumulation may affect the vertical distribution of P within agricultural drainage ditch soils. The objective of this study was to assess the vertical distribution of P as a function of horizonation in ditch soils at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Research Farm in Princess Anne, Maryland. Twenty-one profiles were sampled from 10 agricultural ditches ranging in length from 225 to 550 m. Horizon samples were analyzed for total P; water-extractable P; Mehlich-3 P; acid ammonium oxalate-extractable P, Fe, and Al (P_ox, Fe_ox, Al_ox); pH; and organic C (n = 126). Total P ranged from 27 to 4882 mg kg^–1, P_ox from 4 to 4631 mg kg^–1, Mehlich-3 P from 2 to 401 mg kg^–1, and water-extractable P from 0 to 17 mg kg^–1. Soil-forming processes that result in differences between horizons had a strong relationship with various P fractions and P sorption capacity. Fibric organic horizons at the ditch soil surface had the greatest mean P_ox, Fe_ox, and Al_ox concentrations of any horizon class. Gleyed A horizons had a mean Fe_ox concentrations 2.6 times lower than dark A horizons and were significantly lower in total P and P_ox. Variation in P due to organic matter accumulation and gleization provide critical insight into short- and long-term dynamics of P in ditch soils and should be accounted for when applying ditch management practices.

Abbreviations: Al_ox, acid ammonium oxalate-extractable Al • DPS, percent degree of P saturation • Fe_ox, acid ammonium oxalate-extractable Fe • M3P, Mehlich 3-P • P_ox, acid ammonium oxalate-extractable P • S_max, Langmuir P sorption maximum • TP, total P • UMES, University of Maryland Eastern Shore • WEP, water-extractable P