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The Phosphorus Cycle

The Phosphorus Cycle

Unlike carbon, water, and nitrogen, phosphorus is not present in the atmosphere as a gas. Instead, most phosphorus in the ecosystem exists as compounds, such as phosphate ions (PO43-), found in soil, water, sediment and rocks. Phosphorus is often a limiting nutrient (i.e., in short supply). Consequently, phosphorus is added to most agricultural fertilizers, which can cause environmental problems related to runoff in aquatic ecosystems.

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Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading

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Published on: March 6, 2014

Comparing Drivers of Spatial Variability in U.S. Lake and Stream Phosphorus Concentrations.

Robert D Sabo¹, Brian Pickard², Jiajia Lin^3,4

¹Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Health and Environmental Effects Division, US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC, USA.

Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences

|October 8, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding phosphorus (P) drivers in freshwater is key for water quality. Streams respond faster to nutrient management than lakes, but both face rising P due to climate change.

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Last Updated: Jun 11, 2025

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Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Water Quality
Ecology

Background:

Surface water phosphorus (P) concentrations are critical for freshwater ecosystem health.
Identifying drivers of P loading and pollution sources is essential for effective water quality restoration.
Environmental factors mediate P transport and retention in aquatic systems.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify key drivers of surface water phosphorus concentrations in streams and lakes across the conterminous United States.
To determine how environmental factors and pollution sources co-locate to influence P loading.
To inform watershed restoration strategies by understanding P dynamics.

Main Methods:

Utilized publicly available spatial data sets of P pollution sources and environmental variables (temperature, precipitation, soil erodibility).
Matched spatial data with over 7,000 stream and lake total P observations.
Employed correlation, regression, and machine learning techniques to analyze P drivers.

Main Results:

Stream P concentrations were strongly correlated with annual fertilizer/manure inputs and agricultural legacy sources.
Lake P concentrations showed associations with agricultural inputs but were more influenced by historic erosion and internal recycling.
Both stream and lake P concentrations are projected to increase due to warming temperatures and forest recovery.

Conclusions:

Streams may respond more rapidly to agricultural nutrient management improvements than lakes.
Lake P dynamics are complex, influenced by long-term factors, suggesting slower responses to management.
Climate change and land use recovery will exacerbate P loading challenges, necessitating adaptive restoration strategies.