Redox-induced phosphorus release from critical source areas following rainfall events in New Zealand

Abstract

Critical source areas (CSAs) can act as a source of phosphorus (P) during intermittent rainfall events and contribute to dissolved P loss via runoff. Dissolved forms of P are readily accessible for plant and algal uptake; hence it is a concern in terms of the eutrophication of freshwater bodies. The potential of CSAs to release dissolved P to surface runoff upon intermittent short-term submergence caused by different rainfall events has not been studied at a field-scale in New Zealand previously. A field study was conducted to investigate the potential of two different pastoral soil CSAs (Recent and Pallic soil) to release soil P over five rainfall events during winter and to explore the mechanisms of P release in these soils. Ten sampling stations were installed within each CSA in an area of 6 × 2 m2. Each sampling station had two porewater samplers installed at two depths (2 and 10 cm) below the soil surface. Two platinum half-cell electrodes were installed at the same two depths. Porewater and floodwater samples were collected following five rainfall events. Redox potentials were measured in-situ. Dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), pH, dissolved organic carbon, cations, anions, and alkalinity of the water samples were measured. Soil chemical P fractions were assessed at the beginning, middle and end of the experiment. Thermodynamic modelling was used to infer dissolution and formation of P and P-associated minerals. The average porewater DRP at the two depths during the rainfall events of the Recent and Pallic soils were 0.32-1.3 mg L-1 and 0.26-2.31 mg L-1, respectively. The average floodwater DRP concentrations of the Recent and Pallic soils were 35 and 43-fold higher than the target DRP concentration (0.01 mg L-1) for the Manawatū River. The study highlights the substantial risk of P loss from CSAs to surface water, driven primarily by the reductive dissolution of Fe and Mn oxy(hydr)oxides. The findings underscore the importance of targeted management strategies to mitigate dissolved P runoff, particularly in high-risk CSAs frequent submerged during rainfall events. This study developed an effective method for monitoring soil porewater P and redox conditions, offering valuable insights and practical tools for resource managers seeking to reduce P contamination.