Examining sources and pathways of phosphorus transfer in a ditch-drained field

Understanding the processes that mobilize and transport dissolved phosphorus (P) during storms is critical to managing P in flat landscapes with open ditch drainage and legacy soil P. In this study, we used routine baseflow monitoring and intensive storm sampling at a ditch-drained site on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore (July 2017-September 2018) to assess whether concentration-discharge (C-Q) relationships and chemical and isotopic hydrograph separation could provide insight into the processes that mobilize and transport dissolved P in ditch drainage. Using a segmented regression model, we determined that long-term C-Q relationships for dissolved P differed above and below a discharge threshold of 6.4 L s^-1 . Intensive storm sampling revealed that small storms (n = 3) occurring at or below the discharge threshold generally exhibited complex hysteresis and dissolved P dilution patterns that were consistent with deeper (>122 cm) groundwater inputs with low dissolved P concentrations (0.04 mg L^-1 ). In contrast, large storms occurring well above the discharge threshold (n = 4) induced rising water tables and preferential flow pathways that most likely tapped dissolved P-enriched shallow (<20 cm) soil waters (0.89 mg L^-1 ), producing consistent clockwise hysteresis and dissolved P flushing patterns. Notably, chemical and isotope hydrograph separation during two of the largest storms revealed significant event water fractions (59-68%) that strongly suggested a role for the rapid delivery of dissolved P via preferential flow pathways. Findings highlight the need to mitigate vertical P stratification as a means for reducing dissolved P flushing from ditch-drained landscapes with legacy P.