Challenges and Successes in Identifying the Transfer and Transformation of Phosphorus from Soils to Open Waters and Sediments

Dear Colleagues,

Anthropogenic loading of phosphorus to water bodies continues to increase worldwide, in many cases leading to increased eutrophication and harmful algal blooms. Determining the sources of phosphorus and biogeochemical processes responsible for this increase is often difficult because of complexity on inputs and pathways, which vary both in spatial and temporal scales. In order to effectively develop strategies to improve water quality, it is essential to develop a comprehensive understanding of the relationship of P pools with biological uptake and cycling under varied soil and water conditions. A wide variety of processes, including changes in phosphorus speciation, transformations between organic and inorganic species, and transfer between biotic and abiotic forms, occur along the route from soils to open waters and to sediments until ultimate burial, and together increase the complexity of quantifying processes, cycling, or tracing sources. In addition, climate-change-related effects and feedback thereof often exacerbate a number of processes, including redox-mediated release of legacy phosphorus in sediments.

We invite papers that address the topic of soil P processes involving transfer and transformation across the landscape, either presenting novel research methods or synergy among non-traditional research fields, a review of existing successes and failures with underlying causes, or data-driven recommendations on the various approaches necessary to mitigate P loss and achieve the tangible goal of improving water quality.

Dr. Donald S. Ross
Dr. Eric O. Young
Dr. Deb P Jaisi
Guest Editors

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