Mitigation of diffuse phosphorus pollution during rewetting of fen peat soils: A trans-European case study

Meissner, R., Leinweber, P., Rupp, H., Shenker, M., Litaor, M. I., Robinson, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1045-4412, Schlichting, A. and Koehn, J. (2008) Mitigation of diffuse phosphorus pollution during rewetting of fen peat soils: A trans-European case study. Water Air and Soil Pollution, 188 (1-4). pp. 111-126. ISSN 0049-6979 doi: 10.1007/s11270-007-9528-4

Abstract/Summary

Intensive cultivation of fen peat soils (Eutric Histosols) for agricultural purposes, started in Europe about 250 years ago, resulting in decreased soil fertility, increased oxidation of peat and corresponding CO2-emissions to the atmosphere, nutrient transfer to aquatic ecosystems and losses in the total area of the former native wetlands. To prevent these negative environmental effects set-aside programs and rewetting measures were promoted in recent years. Literature results and practical experiences showed that large scale rewetting of intensively used agricultural Histosols may result in the mobilisation of phosphorus (P), its transport to adjacent surface waters and an accelerated eutrophication risk. The paper summarises results from an international European Community sponsored research project and demonstrates how results obtained at different scales and from different scientific disciplines were compiled to derive a strategy to carry out rewetting measures. A decision support system (DSS) for a hydrologically sensitive area in the Droemling catchment in north-eastern Germany was developed and is presented as a tool to regulate rewetting in order to control P release. It is demonstrated that additional laboratory experiments to identify essential processes of P release during rewetting and the site-specific management of the water table, the involvement of specific knowledge and experience of the stakeholders are necessary to develop an applicable DSS. The presented DSS is practically used to prevent freshwater resources from diffuse P pollution.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/3799
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Soil Research Centre
Uncontrolled Keywords	agricultural watershed land use change assessment measurement phosphorus Histosol ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS REDOX POTENTIALS ALTERED WETLAND FRACTIONS PHOSPHATE GERMANY NETHERLANDS SATURATION MANAGEMENT RETENTION
Publisher	Springer Verlag
Download/View statistics	View download statistics for this item