Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Phosphorus loss from an agricultural watershed as a function of storm size.
AU - Sharpley, Andrew N.
AU - Kleinman, Peter J. A.
AU - Heathwaite, A. Louise
AU - Gburek, William J.
AU - Folmar, Gordon J.
AU - Schmidt, John P.
PY - 2008/3
Y1 - 2008/3
N2 - Phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural watersheds is generally greater in storm rather than base flow. Although fundamental to P-based risk assessment tools, few studies have quantified the effect of storm size on P loss. Thus, the loss of P as a function of flow type (base and storm flow) and size was quantified for a mixed-land use watershed (FD-36; 39.5 ha) from 1997 to 2006. Storm size was ranked by return period (<1, 1–3, 3–5, 5–10, and >10 yr), where increasing return period represents storms with greater peak and total flow. From 1997 to 2006, storm flow accounted for 32% of watershed discharge yet contributed 65% of dissolved reactive P (DP) (107 g ha–1 yr–1) and 80% of total P (TP) exported (515 g ha–1 yr–1). Of 248 storm flows during this period, 93% had a return period of <1 yr, contributing most of the 10-yr flow (6507 m3 ha–1; 63%) and export of DP (574 g ha–1; 54%) and TP (2423 g ha–1; 47%). Two 10-yr storms contributed 23% of P exported between 1997 and 2006. A significant increase in storm flow DP concentration with storm size (0.09–0.16 mg L–1) suggests that P release from soil and/or area of the watershed producing runoff increase with storm size. Thus, implementation of P-based Best Management Practice needs to consider what level of risk management is acceptable.
AB - Phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural watersheds is generally greater in storm rather than base flow. Although fundamental to P-based risk assessment tools, few studies have quantified the effect of storm size on P loss. Thus, the loss of P as a function of flow type (base and storm flow) and size was quantified for a mixed-land use watershed (FD-36; 39.5 ha) from 1997 to 2006. Storm size was ranked by return period (<1, 1–3, 3–5, 5–10, and >10 yr), where increasing return period represents storms with greater peak and total flow. From 1997 to 2006, storm flow accounted for 32% of watershed discharge yet contributed 65% of dissolved reactive P (DP) (107 g ha–1 yr–1) and 80% of total P (TP) exported (515 g ha–1 yr–1). Of 248 storm flows during this period, 93% had a return period of <1 yr, contributing most of the 10-yr flow (6507 m3 ha–1; 63%) and export of DP (574 g ha–1; 54%) and TP (2423 g ha–1; 47%). Two 10-yr storms contributed 23% of P exported between 1997 and 2006. A significant increase in storm flow DP concentration with storm size (0.09–0.16 mg L–1) suggests that P release from soil and/or area of the watershed producing runoff increase with storm size. Thus, implementation of P-based Best Management Practice needs to consider what level of risk management is acceptable.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=40849097988&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2134/jeq2007.0366
DO - 10.2134/jeq2007.0366
M3 - Journal article
VL - 37
SP - 362
EP - 368
JO - Journal of Environmental Quality
JF - Journal of Environmental Quality
SN - 0047-2425
IS - 2
ER -