Phosphorus sorption capacities in a headstream landscape - The pond chain structure

Understanding phosphorus sorption phenomena in different wetland sediments is important in controlling the P output in headstream watersheds. The pond chain structure (PCS) is widespread in the headstream agricultural watersheds in the southeast of China. Phosphorus sorption characteristics were determined for pond surface sediments (0-12 cm) along a pond chain structure in Liuchahe watershed of Chaohu Lake. Results showed that P sorption capacities (expressed by P sorption index (PSI)) varied both with the landscape position of the ponds and sediment depth. From foothill ponds to riverside ponds the P sorption capacities indicated a significant gradient variability. The higher elevation ponds showed greater sorption capacities, and with the pond elevation decline, P sorption capacities gradually decreased. Some physico-chemical properties, such as pH, oxalate-extractable Fe (Fe-ox), organic matter (TOC) and Mehlich I-extractable Ca, Mg of pond sediments also indicated significant gradient variability from high elevation ponds to low elevation ponds. Fe-ox was the sediment parameters most highly positively correlated with PSI and was the key factor in controlling P sorption capacity in the pond chain structure (r=0.92, p < 0.001). Long-term hydrologic and sediment inputs can affect the distribution of sediment constituents and further affect the P sorption capacity. Making the best of the spatial difference of sorption capacities of ponds in watersheds to control nonpoint source P pollutant is necessary.