Skip to main content
Log in

Bioavailability of phosphorus in agriculturally loaded rivers in southern Finland

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The potential bioavailability of phosphorus in agriculturally loaded rivers of southern Finland was determined by an algal bioassay and the release of the potentially bioavailable particulate P was estimated by sorption studies. According to the bioassay 0 to 13.2 per cent (mean 5.1%) of the particulate P in river water samples was potentially bioavailable. Dissolved reactive P (DRP) in river waters appeared to be totally bioavailable whereas the dissolved unreactive P appeared not to be utilized by algae. In addition to river waters two lake sediment samples were also assayed. In these samples 0 and 2.6% of the P was bioavailable. The potential bioavailability of particulate P in agriculturally loaded rivers obtained in this study was lower than that reported in studies from other countries. The difference was assumed to arise partly from methodological factors and partly from the nature of the Finnish soils. The EPC (equilibrium phosphate concentration) values indicated that during the period when most of the agricultural loading enters the lakes in Finland, potentially bioavailable P is not released from the particles because of the relatively high DRP concentration in the receiving waters. However, during the algal production period the DRP concentration in lakes decreases below the EPC and potentially bioavailable particulate P is desorbed. The increase in pH during this period may further enhance the desorption of P.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Berge, D. & T. Källqvist, 1990. Biotilgjengelighet av fostor i jordbruksavrenning. Sammenliknet med andre forurensningskilder. Sluttrapport. NIVA rapport, 130 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boström, B., G. Persson & B. Broberg, 1988. Bioavailability of different phosphorus forms in freshwater systems. Hydrobiologia 170: 133–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradford, M. E. & R. H. Peters, 1987. The relationship between chemically analyzed phosphorus fractions and bioavailable phosphorus. Limnol. Oceanogr. 32: 1124–1137.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caraco, N. F., J. J. Cole & G. E. Likens, 1989. Evidence for sulphate controlled phosphorus release from sediments of aquatic systems. Nature 341: 316–318.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cowen, W. F. & G. F. Lee, 1976. Phosphorus availability in particulate materials transported by urban runoff. J. Wat. Pollut. Cont. Fed. 48: 580–591.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DePinto, J. V., 1982. An experimental apparatus for evaluating kinetics of available phosphorus release from aquatic particulates. Wat. Res. 16: 1065–1070.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DePinto, J. V., T. C. Young & S. C. Martin, 1981. Algal-available phosphorus in suspended sediments from Lower Great Lakes tributaries. J. Great Lakes Res. 7: 311–325.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dorich, R. A., D. W. Nelson & L. E. Sommers, 1980. Algal bioavailability of sediment phosphorus in drainage water of the Black Creek Watershed. J. envir. Qual. 9: 557–563.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dorich, R. A., D. W. Nelson & L. E. Sommers, 1984. Algal availability of phosphorus is suspended stream sediments of varying particle size. J. envir. Qual. 13: 82–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, B. K. & J. A. Stanford, 1988. Phosphorus bioavailability of fluvial sediments determined by algal assays. Hydrobiologia 160: 9–18.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fitter, A. H. & C. D. Sutton, 1975. The use of the Freundlich isotherm for soil phosphate sorption data. J. Soil Sci. 26: 241–246.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Golterman, H. L., 1988. Reflections on fractionation and bioavailability of sediment bound phosphate. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih. 30: 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, D. B., T. J. Logan & N. E. Smeck, 1978. Phoshate adsorption-desorption characteristics of suspended sediments in the Maumee River basin of Ohio. J. envir. Qual. 7: 208–212.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartikainen, H., 1979. Phosphorus and its reactions in terrestrial soils and lake sediments. J. Scient. agric. Soc. Finl. 51: 537–624.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartikainen, H., 1981. Effect of decreasing acidity on the extractability of inorganic soil phosphorus. J. Scient. agric. Soc. Finl. 53: 16–26.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartikainen, H., 1982a. Relationship between phosphorus intensity and capacity parameters in Finnish mineral soils. I Interpretation and application of phosphorus sorption-desorption isotherms. J. Scient. agric. Soc. Finl. 54: 245–250.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartikainen, H., 1982b. Relationship between phosphorus intensity and capacity parameters in Finnish mineral soils. II Sorption-desorption isotherms and their relation to soil characteristics. J. Scient. agric. Soc. Finl. 54: 251–262.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartikainen, H., 1986. Phosphorus concentration of soil-water extract as a function of extraction ratio. Trans. 13th Congr. int. Soc. Soil. Sci. 2: 325–326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartikainen, H., 1991. Potential mobility of accumulated phosphorus in soil as estimated by the indices of Q/I plots and by extractant. Soil Sci. 152: 204–209.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartikainen, H. & M. Yli-Halla, 1983. Chloride and sulphate solutions as extractants for soil P. III Effect of increasing sulphate concentration on P desorption. J. Scient. agric. Soc. Finl. 55: 363–369.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hegemann, D. A. & J. D. Keenan, 1985. Measurement of watershed phosphorus: a review. Toxicol. envir. Chem. 9: 265–289.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holford, I. C. R. & G. E. G. Mattingly, 1976. A model for the behavior of labile phosphate in soil. Plant Soil 44: 219–229.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Källqvist, T. & D. Berge, 1990. Biological availability of phosphorus in agricultural runoff compared to other phosphorus sources. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 24: 214–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klotz, R. L., 1988. Sediment control of soluble reactive phosphorus in Hoxie Gorge Creek, New York. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 45: 2026–2034.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kotai, J., 1972. Instructions for preparation of modified nutrient solution Z8 for algae. NIVA publ. B-11/69.

  • Knuuttila, S., O-P. Pietiläinen & L. Kauppi, 1994. Nutrient balances and phytoplankton dynamics in two agriculturally loaded shallow lakes. Hydrobiologia 275/276: 359–369.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kranck, K. 1984. The role of flocculation in the filtering of particulate matter in estuaries. In: Kennedy, V. S. (ed.), The estuary as a filter. Academic press, New York: 159–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krogstad, T. & Ø. Løvstad, 1991. Available soil phosphorus for planktonic blue-green algae in eutrophic lake water samples. Arch. Hydrobiol. 122: 117–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, G. F., R. A. Jones & W. Rast, 1980. Availability of phosphorus to phytoplankton and its implications for phosphorus management strategies. In R. C. Loehr, C. S. Martin & W. Rast (eds), Phosphorus management strategies for lakes. Ann Arbor Sci. Ann Arbor: 259–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marengo, G. & G. Premazzi, 1985. Biological availability of P-loads to Lake Lugano. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 22: 3351–3355.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McLachlan, J., 1973. Growth media — marine. In J. R. Stein (ed.), Handbook of phycological methods. Culture Methods and growth measurements. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 25–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson, G., 1990. Utilization of phosphorus in suspended particulate matter as tested by algal bioassays. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 24: 242–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pietiläinen, O-P. & S. Rekolainen, 1991. Dissolved reactive and total phosphorus load from agricultural and forested basins to surface waters in Finland. Aqua Fennica 21: 127–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitkänen, H., 1987. Joet rannikkovesien ravinnekuormittajana Suomessa. Licenciate thesis, University of Helsinki, Department of Limnology, 33 pp.

  • Rekolainen, S., 1989. Phosphorus and nitrogen load from forest and agricultural areas in Finland. Aqua Fennica 19: 95–107.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ribo, J. M. & K. L. E. Kaiser, 1987. Photobacterium phosphoreum toxicity bioassay. I. Test procedures and applications. Toxicity Assessment: An International Quaterly 2: 305–323.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sagher, A., R. Harris & D. E. Armstrong, 1975. Availability of sediment phosphorus to microorganisms. Water Resource Center, Univ. of Wis. Mad. Tech. Rep. WIS WRC 75–01, 56 pp.

  • SFS 3025, 1986. Veden fosfaatin määritys. Suomen standardisoimisliitto SFS, 10 pp.

  • SFS 3026, 1986. Veden kokonaisfosforin määritys. Hajotus peroksodisulfaatilla. Suomen standardisoimisliitto SFS, 11 pp.

  • SFS 5072, 1986. Vesitutkimukset. Myrkyllisyystesti leväpuhdasviljelmällä. Suomen standardisoimisliitto SFS, 11 pp.

  • Sonzogni, W. C., S. C. Chapra, D. E. Armstrong & T. J. Logan, 1982. Bioavailability of phosphorus inputs to lakes. J. envir. Qual. 11: 555–563.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Twinch, A. J., 1987. Phosphate exchange characteristics of wet and dried sediment samples from a hypertrophic reservoir: implications for the measurements of sediment phosphorus status. Wat. Res. 21: 1225–1230.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young, T. C., J. V. DePinto, S. C. Martin & J. S. Bonner, 1985. Algal-available particulate phosphorus in the Great Lakes Basin. J. Great Lakes Res. 11: 434–446.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, J. D. H., H. Shear & R. L. Thomas, 1980. Availability to Scenedesmus quadricauda of different forms of phosphorus in sedimentary materials from the Great Lakes. Limnol. Oceanogr. 25: 1–11.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ekholm, P. Bioavailability of phosphorus in agriculturally loaded rivers in southern Finland. Hydrobiologia 287, 179–194 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010733

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010733

Key words

Navigation