Patterns and bioavailability of soil nutrients and carbon across a gradient of inundation frequencies in a lowland river channel, Murray-Darling Basin, Australia

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Woodward, K Benjamin
Fellows, Christine S
Mitrovic, Simon M
Sheldon, Fran
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2015
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

The distribution of both carbon and nutrient stores in the landscape is not homogeneous, and is influenced by soil properties such as texture and organic content as well as spatial gradients such as inundation frequency. In this study the distribution of water extractable soil nutrients and water mobile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and its bioavailability were investigated at specific levels along a cross-sectional gradient that extended from the baseflow level deep in the channel to the floodplain. The frequency with which these specific levels are inundated was modelled under three flow regimes to determine if flow change is likely to influence nutrient supply to the river. Soil surface litter and soil organic carbon content, DOC and SRP increased along a trajectory from the base of the channel onto the floodplain. Ammonium increased and nitrate decreased as in-channel height decreased. This reflects an increase in soil inundation frequency lower in the channel decreasing nitrification rates and increasing NO3− losses via mobilisation and denitrification. Bioavailable soil DOC (BDOC) was lowest in the most frequently inundated soils; however, overall soil BDOC did not relate to either changing soil properties or inundation frequency. There were no significant differences in nutrient and carbon supply to the river under the three modelled flow regimes (with flows extraction rules, without flow extraction rules and natural flows) explored as flow change was most marked in the channel bed region, where little organic matter was stored.

Journal Title

Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

205

Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Environmental sciences

Other environmental sciences not elsewhere classified

Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences

Human society

Persistent link to this record
Citation
Collections