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Phosphorus (P) export from agriculture is a major cause of eutrophication in many lake ecosystems. Human activity, hydrology, and physicochemical and biological processes that store, transform, and transport P, define P export patterns over time and space. We suggest that anecosystem paradigm is useful to holistically view P dynamics within complex watersheds. An ecosystem model of a dairy agricultural systemwas created within a hierarchical compartment-flux structure of a conceptual watershed ecosystem. Mass balance calculations with our Agriculture Ecosystem model (AEP model) describe P dynamics for the farm system, which are driven by the amount of P stored in agricultural soils and system management practices. Long-term P dynamics respond predominately to human interventions in watersheds and define conditionsfor future generations. Model simulations suggest that long-term environmental protection programs should incorporate the notions of P sustainability into management decisions. Dynamic simulation modeling is a valuable paradigm for understanding how complex watersheds process P and for developing management perspectives and public policy to achieve goals of environmental quality as well as economic and resource sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) export from the Foron River watershed was intensivelymonitored. Water was analysed for total P, soluble total P, soluble orthophosphate and suspended solids. Watershed soils and river sediments were sampled and the size fraction <0.2 mm analysed for total P, water extractable P, bioavailable P, 1 minute exchangeable P and P fixation capacity. Interstitial waters were analysed for soluble total P. Four hydrological conditions recurred, two during low river flows and two during increased flow. The first occurs in dry weather with aconstant or decreasing flow over at least seven days and when there is no surface runoff. Exported phosphorus, predominately soluble and bioavailable, is from point sources. Phosphorus inputs exceed P export so P accumulates in the river. The second condition occurs when a small storm flow increases the average seven-day flow to exceed the preceding weekly average. Phosphorus export exceeds P inputs and originates from urban runoff, point sources and release of P stored in the river. Exported P is largely particulate but highly bioavailable. Thethird condition is when substantial runoff follows at least a seven-day period of constant decreasing flow. Phosphorus export is from diffuse urban runoff. All the P stored is exported. Exported P is highlybioavailable. High concentrations and fluxes of P export are often seen. The fourth condition happens when the soils are wet and increased flow is from both urban and agricultural runoff. Phosphorus export from diffuse agricultural runoff predominates and is largely not bioavailable. Phosphorus concentrations are low but export fluxes are high when flows are high. These hydrological conditions, when integratedwith concepts of mass balance define a phosphorus export typology comprising four regimes. These regimes explain total phosphorus (TP) storage, transport and export patterns, changes in P speciation and allow identification of probable sources of TP in the Foron river watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) obliges Member States to improve the quality of surface water and groundwater. The measures implemented to date have reduced the contribution of point sources of pollution, and hence diffuse pollution from agriculture has become more important. In many catchments the water quality remains poor. COST Action 869 was an EU initiative to improve surface water quality that ran from 2006 to 2011, in which 30 countries participated. Its main aim was a scientific evaluation of the suitability and cost-effectiveness of options for reducing nutrient loss from rural areas to surface waters at catchment scale, including the feasibility of the options under different climatic and geographical conditions. This paper gives an overview of various categories of mitigation options in relation to phosphorus (P). The individual measures are described in terms of their mode of action, applicability, effectiveness, time frame, environmental side-effects (N cycling) and cost. In total, 83 measures were evaluated in COST Action 869. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate phosphorus (P) species modifications triggered by soil genesis and mountain ecosystem development after glacial retreat using a lake sediment archive (Lake Anterne, North French Alps). Five lake sediment samples, representative of different stages of soil and ecosystem development, were selected for P speciation analyses. Furthermore, a sequence of current soils from the catchment was analyzed to better constrain our interpretations of the lacustrine archive. Synchrotron techniques (X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) mapping and P K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy) were applied to lake sediments, soils, and standards (mineral and organic) to distinguish between different P species. The results show that soil development during the first millennia of the Holocene triggered increased P species diversity. At the onset of the Holocene, P was present as apatite when rocks and leptosols dominated the catchment. Pedogenic processes then led to apatite dissolution and the formation of large amounts of P on metal/clay-organic complexes. P geochemistry during the main step of soil genesis (early leptosols dominated by apatite, low weathered cambisols with P mainly adsorbed on iron oxides, highly weathered podzols with large amounts of P on Al/Fe/clay organic complexes) is thus clearly recorded in lake sediments. P K-edge XANES spectroscopy is particularly relevant as qualitative method to study P species in soils and lake sediments at high spatial resolution. Such resolution is needed to reveal the diversity of small P particles and like this better characterize the P cycle and improve our understanding of ecosystem evolution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present article describes a first attempt to use infrared spectroscopy to trace the origin of suspended river sediments. Fifty samples of the main potential sediment sources within a small catchment area (990 ha) in the French Alps were collected and compared with samples of suspended sediment from the river, collected on various dates during 2006 and 2007 using sediment traps. Two major categories of sediment source were identified: topsoils and river channel sediments. For the qualitative part of the study, each of these two main categories was divided into two sub-categories, that is to say, cultivated and pastureland topsoils, and riverbed and riverbank sediments. Discriminant analysis on the source samples showed that Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy can be used to differentiate between the four potential source materials. To determine whether or not immersion in the river altered the infrared spectra of these source materials, we measured the infrared spectra of samples that had been immersed in the river, in litter bags, for periods of up to 24 days. Immersion did not cause any major changes in the infrared spectra. The contribution of each type of source material to the suspended sediment in the river was quantified using partial least squares (PLS) analyses of DRIFT spectra to compare actual river sediment samples with an experimental model. This model was produced from the DRIFT spectra of a range of calibration samples produced by mixing source material samples in different ratios. The predictions of the model were valid and fell within the confidence interval calculated for the calibration set. Comparisons between suspended sediment samples and the model indicate that the predominant source of the sediment is riverbank erosion, which, in this case, is probably due to trampling by cattle.

Dynamic simulation technology is integrated with mass balance concepts and compartment-flux diagramming to create computer models that estimate contaminant export from watersheds over long and short-term futures under alternative simulated policies of watershed management. The Watershed Ecosystem Nutrient Dynamics (WEND) model, applied to developed watersheds with a mix of urban, agricultural, and forest land-uses, predicted phosphorus (P) export from three watersheds; a 275,000 ha dairy/urban watershed, a 77,000 ha poultry/urban watershed, and a 23,000 ha swine dominated watershed. Urban, agricultural, and forestry activities contribute to P export in different proportions. In all cases the P imports to the watershed exceed total export and P accumulates in watershed soils. Long-term future P export patterns are compared for several watershed management strategies that range from encouragement of rapid urban growth to aggressive environmental protection. The specific response of each watershed to imposed management is unique, but management strategies designed to reduce export of P over the long-term need to consider options that promote P input/output balance. Using this same approach, the Watershed Ecosystem Bacterial Dynamics (WEBD) model assesses the dynamics of bacterial populations in a small case-study watershed over an annual cycle as influenced by dairy farm management actions. WEND and WEBD models integrate the diversity of activities and stakeholders interested in the watershed and promote development of a more holistic understanding of watershed function. Model outputs are designed to assist watershed policy-makers, managers, and planners to explore potential future impacts of management/policy decisions.

The aim of this work is to achieve a better understanding of the behavior of fecal coliform populations on the vegetation and in the soil after slurry spreading in environmental conditions, typical of vegetative growth period in mountain hay meadows. Changes in fecal coliform populations on the vegetation and in the soil were monitored in situ for 3 months after slurry spreading on 9 plots. The variations found in populations are related to the agricultural, soil. and climatic characteristics of plots and to the moisture regime of soils. These observations are compared with laboratory experiments on undisturbed soil microcosms. In absence of water flux, survival durations recorded in the laboratory and in the field are of the same order of magnitude. The data enable us to pinpoint the influence of various factors affecting the decline and transfer of fecal bacteria in the plant-soil system and consequently to discuss the risk management of water contamination by agriculture.

The principles of mass balance, compartment-flux diagramming, and dynamic simulation modeling are integrated to create computer models that estimate phosphorus (P) export from large-scale watersheds over long-term futures. These Watershed Ecosystem Nutrient Dynamics (WEND) models are applied to a 275,000 ha dairy-documented watershed and a 77,000 ha poultry-dominated watershed in northeastern USA. Model predictions of present-day P export loads are consistent with monitoring data and estimates made using P export coefficients. For both watersheds P import exceeds P export and P is accumulating in the agricultural soils. Agricultural and urban activities are major contributors to P export from both watersheds. Continued urban growth will increase P export over time unless wastewater management is substantially enhanced and/or rates of urban growth are controlled. Agriculture cannot rely solely on the implementation of increasingly stringent conservation practices to reduce long-term P export but must consider options that promote P input/output balance. The WEND modeling process is a powerful tool to integrate the diversity of activities in watersheds into a holistic framework. Model outputs are suited to assist managers to explore long-term effects of overall watershed management strategies on P export in comparison to environmental and economic goals.