Assessing strategies to mitigate phosphorus leaching from drained clay soils

Assessing mitigation of phosphorus (P) leaching from subsurface drainage systems is challenging due to high spatial and temporal variation in leaching. Mean measured total P leaching from a clayey soil in an eight-year study period (four replicates per treatment) was (kg ha^?1 year^?1): 1.21 from shallow autumn tillage (ShT), 0.84 from unfertilised fallow (UF), 0.81 from conventional autumn ploughing (CT) and 0.57 from structure liming (SL–CT). Treatment was not significant using Richards–Baker flow index or a distance factor as covariate (p = 0.084 and 0.057). A tendency for lower leaching was obtained comparing SL-CT with ShT (p _adjusted = 0.060 and 0.009 respectively). A combination of measures adapted to drainage conditions and clay content in different parts of the field is proposed since P leaching was approximately halved from an adjacent field (4.3 ha) in a three-year post-period compared with a three-year pre-period for structure liming the entire field and drainage system renovation plus structure lime drain backfilling.     

Secondary air pollutants

The study has been performed in a supposedly clean-air region of a Northern Finnish forest with a homogeneous stand of Scots pine. Stomatal epicuticular wax layer erosion is described using a classification system of five erosion stages. The percentage of stomatal wax within each erosion stage is calculated and the results are treated statistically, which makes the morphological study of the needle surface semi-quantitative. Severe wax degradation has already been found in the current year, increasing with the age of the needles. In this area, the wax layer erosion is correlated with secondary air pollutants, as analyses have shown high trichloroacetate (TCA) levels in needles from the same trees. The wax layer analyses are in accordance with earlier findings which have demonstrated differences in tolerance to TCA.     

Particle deposition,resuspension and phosphorus accumulation in small constructed wetlands

To improve understanding of phosphorus (P) retention processes in small constructed wetlands (CWs), we analysed variations in sediment deposition and accumulation in four CWs on clay soils in east-central Sweden. Sediment deposition (in traps) generally exceeded the total suspended solids (TSS) load suggesting that resuspension and wetland base erosion were important. This was confirmed by quantification of particle accumulation (on plates) (1–23 kg m^?2 year^?1), which amounted to only 13–23% of trap deposition. Spatial mean P concentrations in accumulated sediment on plates (0.09–0.15%) were generally similar to temporal mean P concentrations of particles in water (0.11–0.15%). Deposition/accumulation was minor in one wetland with high hydraulic load (400 m year^?1), suggesting that such small wetlands are not efficient as particle sinks. Economic support for CWs are given, but design and landscape position are here demonstrated to be important for effective P retention.     

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of dichlorophene used as a growth inhibitor in containerized seedlings of pine and spruce

Gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were employed in the analysis of dichlorophene used in the nursery cultivation of pine and spruce. The analysis was performed in paper and peat after the conversion of dichlorophene to its dimethyl other. With multiple ion detection a sensitivity of 1 mg/g paper or peat was achieved.     

Recent Trends and Patterns of Nutrient Concentrations in Small Agricultural Streams in Sweden

Long-term median total phosphorus (TotP) and total nitrogen (TotN) concentrations were 0.08 and 5.5 P/N (mg L^-1), respectively, in 10 agricultural streams monitored since 1988 in Sweden. The areas ofthe respective catchments are 2–20 km². The period 1992/2002 was characterised by stable hydrological conditions without any flow trends in nearly all of the streams. The highest average TotP concentration, 0.17 mg P L^-1, was found in a small agriculturalstream in the largest Swedish agricultural plain. The soil texture is here characterised by a large specific surface area of the soil particles, and the agriculture by cereal production. The second highestaverage TotP concentration, 0.14 mg P L ^-1, was measured in the surface water from a catchment characterised partly by clay soils andby production of potato, spring cereals and grass. This catchment had twice as many fields with a calculated high risk for P losses comparedwith another monitored catchment in the same watershed (River Rönneå). There was a significant downward TotP trend during 1992/2002 of 0.0012 mg P L^-1 yr^-1 (Sen's slope estimator) in the catchment where many fields risk P losses and which had a reduced P manure application rate of –20% during 1995/2000. In recent years practically no manure has been spread during autumn. Bypass flow of nitrate through one soil has been suggested to influence the LOWESS (LOcally WEighted Scatterplot Smothing) fitting curve of TotN. Total nitrogen concentration decreased in most of the catchment. The average downward slope was similar to a general TotN reduction of 0.069 mg N L^-1 yr^-1. During the period 1992/2002 this was equal to slightly more than 10 per cent. Cultivation of catch crops wasrelatively uncommon until 2002, but this practice is expected to expandto larger areas during 2003 and in the future.     

Future agriculture with minimized phosphorus losses to waters: Research needs and direction

The series of papers in this issue of AMBIO represent technical presentations made at the 7th International Phosphorus Workshop (IPW7), held in September, 2013 in Uppsala, Sweden. At that meeting, the 150 delegates were involved in round table discussions on major, predetermined themes facing the management of agricultural phosphorus (P) for optimum production goals with minimal water quality impairment. The six themes were (1) P management in a changing world; (2) transport pathways of P from soil to water; (3) monitoring, modeling, and communication; (4) importance of manure and agricultural production systems for P management; (5) identification of appropriate mitigation measures for reduction of P loss; and (6) implementation of mitigation strategies to reduce P loss. This paper details the major challenges and research needs that were identified for each theme and identifies a future roadmap for catchment management that cost-effectively minimizes P loss from agricultural activities.     

Organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers in air from various indoor environments

Eleven organophosphorus compounds (OPs) that are used as plasticizers and flame retardants were analysed in duplicate samples of indoor air from 17 domestic and occupational environments. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns were used as adsorbents and analysis was performed using GC with a nitrogen phosphorus selective detector. The total amounts of OPs in the air samples ranged between 36 and 950 ng m(-3); tris(chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) being the most abundant (0.4 to 730 ng m(-3)), followed by tributyl phosphate (0.5-120 ng m(-3)). Public buildings tended to have about 3-4 times higher levels of OPs than domestic buildings. The relative amounts of individual OPs varied between the sites and generally reflected the building materials, furniture and consumer products used in the sampled environments. Potential sources of these compounds include, inter alia, acoustic ceilings, upholstered furniture, wall coverings, floor polish and polyvinylchloride floor coverings. A correlation was observed between the TCEP concentrations in the air in the sampled environments and previously reported concentrations in dust, but no such correlation was seen for the heavier and less volatile tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP). Based on estimated amounts of indoor air inhaled and dust ingested, adults and children in the sampled environments would be exposed to up to 5.8 microg kg(-1) day(-1) and 57 microg kg(-1) day(-1) total OPs, respectively.     

Adapting regional eutrophication targets for surface waters—influence of the EU Water Framework Directive, national policy and climate change

Large amounts of waterborne nutrients are major problems for society since they can cause harmful algal blooms in surface water bodies. Consequently, there are a variety of national and international guidelines, e.g. Swedish National Environmental Quality Objectives and the EU Water Framework Directive, which include targets to be achieved within a certain time frame. This paper uses the example of a large Swedish lake to show that national and international targets must be adapted to the local situations. Despite decreasing nutrient concentrations, cyanobacterial blooms in the lake have increased over recent years. We found that these blooms coincide with depleted nitrate–nitrogen concentrations and increased water temperatures. We propose a simple model with water temperature, nitrate–nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations as input variables as a basis for formulation of regional eutrophication targets. Political decisions should be preceded by open discussion between policymakers and scientists to differentiate between real knowledge, assumptions or feelings. For optimal results, recommendations for reducing nutrient load should consider all sources, including urban stormwater and wastewater from rural houses, and should be founded on a balanced reduction in emissions of algae-available nutrients. In addition, climate change calls for more effective environmental policy to protect surface water resources.