THE INFLUENCE OF P-RETENTION BY SOILS AND SEDIMENTS ON THE WATER QUALITY OF THE LIONS RIVER |
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| Authors: | H. D. Furness C. M. Breen |
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| Affiliation: | Natal Parks Board, Hluhluwe Game Reserve , P.O. Box 25, Mtubatuba, 3935, South Africa |
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| Abstract: | SUMMARY The soils of Midmar dam catchment and the sediments of the Lions river are shown to have high P-retention properties. Present conditions result in little leaching of PO4 ?4 from the soils and favour a net transport of P from overlying water to the sediments. P levels in the water are likely to remain low even if the loading rate of P were increased substantially. It is postulated however that other factors may induce a release of P from the sediments and adversely affect the load carried by the water. |
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| Keywords: | Phosphate retention catchment soils river sediments water quality phosphate levels |
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