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Phosphorus speciation and release from different plant litters on a River Murray (Australia) floodplain

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A Correction to this article was published on 26 January 2022

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Abstract

Purpose

Phosphorus (P) is a key nutrient controlling primary productivity and eutrophication of floodplain-river ecosystems. The aim of this study was to investigate the P speciation and release during rewetting of litter from the dominant plant communities (river red gum; black box; lignum; chenopods; and grassland) on the Pike floodplain (6,700 ha) of Australia’s largest river system, the River Murray. Average litter loads varied from 1.8 t ha-1 (chenopods) to 12.9 t ha-1 (river red gums).

Methods

Phosphorus concentration (via digestion) and speciation (using 31P NMR spectroscopy) of litters were assessed and dynamics of P release was investigated in 5-day rewetting experiments.

Results

Grassland litter had the highest total P (2.23 mg g-1) and orthophosphate (1.50 mg g-1) concentrations, and released the most orthophosphate (0.38 mg g-1) on rewetting. However, due to the higher elevation of grasslands, P mobilisation would only be significant in large flood events. River red gum litter produced the largest amount of litter and this had moderate total P (0.4-0.6 mg g-1) comprised mostly of orthophosphate. River red gums occupy lower elevations so P release would occur more regularly. Black box litter had higher monoester-P concentrations and released lower amounts of P, and then absorbed P, following rewetting. Aged leaf litters had lower total P concentration and release during rewetting than fresh litter. The amount of total P in litter released as soluble P upon rewetting was variable (1-38 %).

Conclusion

These results can inform the future management of P mobilisation and associated risks or benefits on regulated floodplains and rivers.

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Data availability

Plant litter data available upon request.

Code availability

Not applicable.

Change history

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Maximilian McQuillan, Tan Dang, Bogumila Tomczak, Jingqiu Lou and Colin Rivers for their assistance with laboratory analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, and Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia

    Xihe Zhang, Ronald Smernik & Ashlea Doolette

  2. Department for Environment and Water, 81-95 Waymouth St, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia

    Samantha Walters

  3. School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia

    Luke M. Mosley

Authors
  1. Xihe Zhang
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  2. Ronald Smernik
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  3. Ashlea Doolette
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  4. Samantha Walters
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  5. Luke M. Mosley
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Xihe Zhang, Ronald Smernik, Ashlea Doolette, Samantha Walters, and Luke M. Mosley. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Xihe Zhang and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Luke M. Mosley.

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Responsible Editor: N. Jim Barrow.

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Highlights

• Phosphorus (P) is an important element controlling primary productivity in rivers.

• We determined the concentration and speciation of P in River Murray floodplain plant litters and measured release of P during rewetting.

• Different floodplain plant species produce different litter and P loads.

• River red gum and grassland litters had high orthophosphate concentrations and released more soluble P on re-wetting.

• The results can be used to help inform management of floodplain inundation events.

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Zhang, X., Smernik, R., Doolette, A. et al. Phosphorus speciation and release from different plant litters on a River Murray (Australia) floodplain. Plant Soil 471, 141–156 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05197-0

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