Publication Cover
Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A
Toxic/Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering
Volume 41, 2006 - Issue 10
68
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Original Articles

Comparative Phosphorus Sorption by Marine Sediments and Agricultural Soils in a Tropical Environment

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Pages 2109-2126 | Received 22 Feb 2006, Published online: 06 Feb 2007
 

Abstract

The influence of soil phosphorus (P) sources on P sorption characteristics of marine sediments was investigated for Pearl Harbor and off shore Molokai in Hawaii. Estuary sediments were sampled in seven locations; these represented different soils and on-shore activities. The soil samples included nine major soils that contributed sediment to the Harbor and coastal sediments near the island of Molokai. Sediment and soil samples were equilibrated for 6 days in 0.01 M CaCl2 solution and synthetic seawater containing differing amounts of P. Phosphorus sorption curves were constructed. The equilibrated solution P, with no P added, ranged from 0.01 to 0.2 mg L−1; P sorption by sediments at standard solution concentration 0.2 mg L−1, ranged from 0 to 230 mg kg−1. Sediment P sorption corresponded closely with soil sorption characteristics. Soils contributing sediments to the west reach of Pearl Harbor are highly weathered Oxisols with high standard P sorption values while those in the southeast of the Harbor were Vertisols and Mollisols which sorb little P. The influence of source materials on sediment P sorption was also observed for off-shore sediments near Molokai. Sediments serve as both source and sink for P in Pearl Harbor and in this role can be a stabilizing influence on P concentration in the water column. Phosphorus sorption curves in conjunction with water quality data can help to understand P dynamics between sediments and the water column and help evaluate concerns about P loading to a water body. For Pearl Harbor, solution P in equilibrium with sediments from the Lochs was 0.021 mg L−1; a value unlikely to produce an algal bloom. (Measured total P in the water columns (mean) was 0.060.)

Notes

*Wahiawa soil contains (∼2%) Manganese.

*Determined in 1971–1972.

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