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Phosphorus and nitrogen cycles in the vegetation of differently managed buffer zones

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Abstract

Vegetated buffer zones (BZs) between a cultivated field and a watercourse reduce erosion and load of particle-bound phosphorus (P), but decay of abundant vegetation increases the potential of BZs to act as a source of readily algal-available P. To quantify temporal variations in P and nitrogen (N) contents of the grassy vegetation of BZs on a clay soil (Vertic Cambisol) in south-western Finland, plant samples were collected six times between May 2005 and April 2006 from natural BZs, BZs grazed by cattle and BZs harvested by cutting and removal of the yield. The total dry weight biomass peaked in early August at 2,130–2,360 and 5,500–6,270 kg ha−1 for the grazed and the other BZs, respectively. In August, 3,840–4,830 kg ha−1 were removed from the harvested BZs while the entire biomass of the non-harvested BZs remained in the field. In October, total P and N contents varied from 2.4–10.2 to 19–72 kg ha−1, respectively, the lowest amounts being for the young harvested BZ and the highest for the non-harvested BZs. A considerable decrease of P and N contents occurred in the biomass up to 6.1 and almost 30 kg ha−1, respectively, after the first frosts. Harvesting of BZs is recommended to decrease the amount of P and N in the BZs and reduce the risk of P and N leaching outside the growing season.

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Acknowledgments

The funding for this study was provided by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation and Maa- ja vesitekniikan tuki ry. The authors thank Mrs Olga Nikolenko, Mr Ari Seppänen and Mr Risto Tanni for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, Environmental Soil Science, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Mari Räty, Markku Yli-Halla & Kimmo Rasa

  2. MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Plant Production Research, Soil and Plant Nutrition, 31600, Jokioinen, Finland

    Jaana Uusi-Kämppä

  3. Research Centre Hanninghof/Yara Suomi Oy, Mechelininkatu 1a, 00180, Helsinki, Finland

    Liisa Pietola

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  1. Mari Räty
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  2. Jaana Uusi-Kämppä
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  5. Liisa Pietola
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Correspondence to Mari Räty.

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Räty, M., Uusi-Kämppä, J., Yli-Halla, M. et al. Phosphorus and nitrogen cycles in the vegetation of differently managed buffer zones. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 86, 121–132 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-009-9277-4

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