Gypsum amendment of agricultural fields to decrease phosphorus losses - Evidence on a catchment scale
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Amending agricultural fields with gypsum effectively reduced phosphorus (P) and sediment runoff into coastal waters. This study shows gypsum
Area Of Science
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Water Quality Management
Background
- Agricultural runoff, particularly phosphorus (P), is a major contributor to coastal water pollution.
- Gypsum application to agricultural fields is a proposed cost-effective strategy to mitigate P and sediment loss.
- Understanding the long-term efficacy and environmental impact of gypsum amendments is crucial for sustainable agriculture.
Purpose Of The Study
- To evaluate the effectiveness of phosphogypsum application in reducing nutrient and sediment loads in coastal waters.
- To assess the duration of gypsum's impact on riverine fluxes of particulate P (PP), total suspended solids (TSS), and dissolved organic C (DOC).
- To compare P and sediment losses from gypsum-amended fields versus unamended fields.
Main Methods
- Treatment of 1490 ha of clayey agricultural fields with phosphogypsum (4 t ha⁻¹).
- Monitoring of recipient river water quality using online sensors and sampling for 5 years post-amendment.
- Comparison of flux data with an upstream control area and pre-amendment data.
Main Results
- Immediate and sustained reduction in riverine fluxes of PP, TSS, and DOC for at least 5 years.
- Significant decreases in PP (15%), TSS (25%), and DOC (8.9%) fluxes over the 5-year monitoring period.
- Amended fields showed substantially lower losses of PP (35%), TSS (59%), and DOC (64%) compared to unamended fields, indicating gypsum's effectiveness.
Conclusions
- Gypsum application is a viable method for reducing P and sediment runoff from agricultural lands.
- The residual presence of gypsum in soil suggests a potential for long-term benefits, though efficiency may decrease over time.
- Variations in erodibility and spatial performance highlight the need for careful consideration of site-specific conditions when applying gypsum.
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