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Mineralogy and nutrient desorption of suspended sediments during a storm event

  • SEDIMENTS, SEC 3 • HILLSLOPE AND RIVER BASIN SEDIMENT DYNAMICS • RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated desorption of potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) from soil and river suspended sediments sampled during a storm event in a Brazilian watershed traditionally used for tobacco plantations.

Material and methods

Suspended sediment samples were collected automatically at the outlet of the watershed and were grouped into three phases: beginning (phase a), middle (phase b) and final stages (phase c) of the storm event. Granulometric and mineralogical characterisation of soils (0 to 0.20 m depth) and suspended sediments was determined, and K and P extractions were performed using a cation and anion exchange resin (CAER) membrane. A kinetic modelling approach was used to estimate the amount of K and P desorbed.

Results and discussion

Clay-sized (<2 μm) content of the soils were all <21 %. Kaolinite, smectite (partially with hydroxy-Al interlayer) and a small amount of illite were found in the clay fraction of the different soils. The clay-sized fractions in sediments of phases a, b and c of the storm event were 49, 52 and 72 %, respectively. Smectite (>90 %) and kaolinite (<10 %) were the dominant clay minerals in the suspended sediments. The values of labile P and potentially available P of suspended sediments were higher than those for soils. In sediments, the highest values of labile P (325 mg kg−1) and labile K (4,458 mg kg−1) were found in phase c and in phase a, respectively.

Conclusions

Particle size distribution and clay mineralogy of soils differed from those of suspended sediments collected during the storm event. By comparison with the watershed soils, suspended sediments collected during the storm event were enriched in fine particles composed mainly of smectite, and this may explain their P and K desorption behaviour. This suggests particle size and clay species selectivity processes during the transfer of sediment particles from soils to aquatic systems. The amounts of P and K desorbed from the suspended sediments in the three phases of the storm event were much larger than those desorbed from soils. This indicates that rainfall promoted the transfer of these nutrients to the watercourses.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank A. Copetti, J.B. Pellegrini and C. Gonçalves for the technical support in the sample collection and chemical analysis, as well as CAPES (CAPES-COFECUB program, Edital 009/2011, process number 3504-11-5) for the financial support. D.S. Rheinheimer and E.C. Bortoluzzi thank CNPq for their fellowships.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, University of Passo Fundo, 99001-970, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil

    Edson Campanhola Bortoluzzi

  2. Department of Soils, Center of Rural Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

    Danilo Rheinheimer dos Santos

  3. Physics Department, Center of Natural and Exacts Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

    Maria Alice Santanna

  4. University of Poitiers, IC2MP-HydrASA UMR 7285, 86022, Poitiers, France

    Laurent Caner

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  1. Edson Campanhola Bortoluzzi
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  4. Laurent Caner
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Correspondence to Edson Campanhola Bortoluzzi.

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Responsible editor: Brian Kronvang

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Bortoluzzi, E.C., dos Santos, D.R., Santanna, M.A. et al. Mineralogy and nutrient desorption of suspended sediments during a storm event. J Soils Sediments 13, 1093–1105 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-013-0692-4

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