To assess the relative contribution of phosphorus release from sediment in Cootes Paradise Marsh, I first examined spatial and temporal variability of laboratory-measured release rates from sediment samples collected from 12 sites within the wetland (Chapter 1 ). The microbial communities from these 12 sites were characterized on the basis of sole-carbon-source utilization using BIOLOG GN plates containing 95 substrates. Results from these experiments were entered into a principal component analysis and the release rates for all sites were regressed against corresponding PC 1 and PC2 scores (Chapter 2). Differences in microbial physiology as defined by PC 1 and PC2 scores accounted for 49% and 53%, respectively of the variation in phosphorus release rates. Using stepwise multiple regression, I concluded that the key determinants of laboratory-derived release rates from West Pond sediment (a highly eutrophic site within Cootes Paradise Marsh) are oxic state, ambient temperature and time of sediment collection (Chapter 3). Using this information I developed a multivariate model to predict release rates. This model, along with 2 alternative approaches, was used to estimate the extent of internal loading (kg d-1) in Cootes Paradise Marsh (Chapter 4). Method 1 was a highly controlled, static approach and resulted in an internal load of 11 .6 kg d-1, which was attributed to diffusion. The remaining two methods were more dynamic in nature as they took into account temporal variation, ambient temperature and the development of anoxia. Using Method 2, I estimated an internal load of 7.8 to 8.5 kgd-1, which was based on empirically-derived laboratory release rates. Method 3 consisted of the predictive model from which I estimated an internal load of 6.7 kgd-1• I attributed the release from the latter two methods to microbial mineralization processes. Based on this work and a previous estimate of internal loading in Cootes Paradise Marsh (Prescott & Tsanis 1997), I concluded that mineralization accounts for 22.3% of total phosphorus loading to the system, preceded only by urban runoff ( 41% ). / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

Phosphorus (P) recovery and re-use is very important today for sustainable nutrient cycling and water quality protection due to the declining global P reserves and increasingly stringent wastewater treatment regulations. P recovery as struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) is a promising technology because it can be used as a slow-release fertilizer. The objective of this study was to investigate different pretreatment methods to enhance struvite precipitation in dairy manure. Generally there are two challenges that need to be overcome to precipitate struvite in liquid dairy manure. The first is the relatively high calcium (Ca) concentration. The present study investigated the effectiveness of two calcium binding reagents to reduce the calcium inhibitory effects to enhance the struvite precipitation. A chemical equilibrium model (Visual MINTEQ 2.60) was used to determine the pH to acidify manure and to precipitate struvite. Then, bench-scale experiments were conducted to validate the model results using synthetic and untreated manure. First, the manure was acidified (pH 4.5) to liberate the particulate-bounded Mg2+, Ca2+ and inorganic P. Second, EDTA and/or oxalate compounds were added to the manure. Third, pH was increased to 7.5 for struvite precipitation from the liquid filtrate. Results showed that struvite-containing crystals were obtained from the samples treated with calcium removal compounds, with a total suspended solids (TSS) concentration less than 4,000 mg/L. The second challenge is the low dissolved reactive P (DRP, i.e. PO4-P) to total P (TP) ratio. This study investigated different pretreatment methods for P release to enhance struvite precipitation in liquid dairy manure: enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR), microwave heating (MW) and anaerobic digestion (AD). All of the pretreatment methods resulted in P release but struvite crystals were observed only in precipitates obtained in manure pretreated with MW+H2SO4 acidification. Without oxalic acid to reduce the Ca2+ effects, all the other pretreatment methods were not effective in enhancing struvite precipitation in liquid dairy manure. Hardly any struvite or crystalline-like solids were found in the non-centrifuged samples, regardless of any pretreatment, indicating the effects of suspended solids and organic matter on struvite precipitation. A partial economic analysis was conducted to assess the chemical costs of P recovery from liquid dairy manure with different pretreatment methods; P recovery amounts as struvite were modeled by Visual Minteq 2.61.Three pretreatment conditions (untreated manure + oxalic acid, MW + H2SO4 acidification, and AD) were selected based on the precipitation results. MW + H2SO4 acidification produced the highest struvite quantities among the pretreatment methods to enhance struvite recovery, also with the lowest chemical addition costs. / Master of Science

A lagoa do Taquaral localiza-se no interior do Parque Portugal, no bairro do Taquaral-Campinas (SP). Foi construída em 1968, por meio do represamento do Córrego Guanabara, principalmente para fins recreativos. Apesar de ter recebido a influência direta de descargas de esgotos durante muitos anos e ainda hoje existirem despejos clandestinos, tem sido pouco estudada. Com a finalidade de conhecer a limnologia e o processo de eutrofização desenvolvido na mesma, foi realizado um estudo incluindo: morfometria da lagoa, determinação da taxa de sedimentação com o uso de armadilhas de sedimentação, determinação da taxa de liberação de fósforo do sedimento, caracterização física, química e biológica da coluna da água e caracterização do sedimento. As amostragens foram realizadas em 2000, considerando, (1) o final do período chuvoso (março), (2) o início do período de estiagem (maio) e (3) o final do período de estiagem (agosto). Com base na morfometria da lagoa, foram escolhidos dois pontos de coleta, sendo um localizado na saída da água, (próximo ao vertedouro, com uma profundidade de 5,70 metros) e outro na região central da lagoa (com uma profundidade de 3,50 metros). Experimentos \"in situ\" com armadilhas foram realizados para: 1) determinar as taxas de sedimentação de sólidos totais, matéria orgânica, inorgânica, clorofila a e fósforo, 2) determinar a liberação de fósforo do sedimento para a coluna da água. As armadilhas que mediram a liberação de fósforo e a sedimentação,permaneceram por um período de incubação de 48 horas. Paralelamente à incubação das armadilhas, foram efetuadas as medidas de temperatura, pH, condutividade, oxigênio dissolvido, penetração de luz, material em suspensão, clorofila \'a\' e feofitina, nutrientes totais e dissolvidos bem como análises das comunidades zooplanctônica e fitoplanctônica. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram valores mais elevados de deposição de material em suspensão no ) período chuvoso (taxa de sedimentação de 24.400 mg/m2.dia e 22.575 mg/m2.dia, nas estações 1 e 2, respectivamente). A maior contribuição do material em suspensão correspondeu à fração orgânica (entre 50 e 60%). A deposição de fósforo total e clorofila apresentaram um comportamento semelhante ao do material em suspensão, com valores máximos no período chuvoso. Para as outras variáveis consideradas, também verificaram-se diferenças temporais. Os dados obtidos para as taxas de sedimentação de material em suspensão e nutrientes, em comparação a outros sistemas, são considerados elevados, demonstrando o acelerado processo de eutrofização. Os resultados do ensaio de liberação de fósforo do sedimento para a coluna da água demonstraram uma liberação de 5 mg P/m2.dia. Entre a comunidade zooplanctônica, os rotíferos e os copépodos foram mais abundantes que os cladóceros. No fitoplâncton, o grupo mais abundante foi o das cianofíceas, seguido pelas clorofíceas. Os fatores externos (precipitação e vento) foram determinantes dos processos físicos, químicos e biológicos na lagoa. / Taquaral lagoon is situated in Portugal Park in Taquaral district in the Campinas city (SP). It was made on 1968 by damming the Guanabara Brook, for entertaining purposes. In spite of the results due to the sewer discharge during many years, which still exist nowadays (illegal discharges), that lagoon has been few studied. In order to know better the limnology and the eutrophication process in development in the lagoon an study was done including: morphology of the lagoon, determination of the sedimentation rates by using sedimentation traps, determination of phosphorus liberation rates from the sediment, physical, chemical and biological characterization of water column and the sediment characterization too. The samples were colleted during three period of the 2000: 1) at the end of rainy weather (March); 2) at the begin of the dry weather (may); 3) at the end of the dry weather (August). Based on the lagoon morphology, two places of collection were selected: one at the near center of the lagoon 3,50 meter deep and the other near the outlet of the water 5,70 meter deep. Experiments in situ, with traps were done in order to: 1) measure sedimentation rates of total solids, organic and inorganic material, chlorophyll a and phosphorous; 2) measure the phosphorus release from the sediment for the water column. The traps used for measuring the phosphorus release and the sedimentation remained for a long time in incubation (48 hours). At the same time of traps incubationthey were done the measurements of temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, light penetration, suspended material, chlorophyll a and feopigments, total and dissolved nutrients as well as analysisof zooplanktonic and phytoplanktonic communities. The resulting data showed higher values of suspended material deposition during the rainy weather (sedimentation rate about 24.400 mg/m2.d and 22.575 mg/m2.d, in the places 1 and 2, respectively). The higher contribution of suspended material is corresponding to the organic fraction (between 50 and 60%). The total phosphorus deposition and the chlorophyll, presented a conduct like the suspended material, with maximum values in the rainy weather. In respect to the other analyzed parameters, it was found a temporal difference. The resulting data for sedimentation rate of suspended material and nutrients, in comparison with other systems are considered high, which shows the high eutrophycation process. The results of the test of phosphorus release from the sediment to the water column demonstrated a release about 5 mg P/m2.d. In the zooplanktonic community, the rotifers and copepods were more abundant than the cladocerans. In the phytoplankton the group more abundant was that of cianoficeas, followed by cloroficeas. Outside influences, like wind and rain were determinatives for the physical, chemical and biological processes in the lagoon.

In working towards a sustainable society, recycling and recovery of products together with handling of scarce resources must be considered. The growing quantities of sludge from wastewater treatment plants and the increasingly stringent restrictions on landfilling and on agricultural use of sludge are promoting other disposal alternatives. Sludge fractionation, providing sludge volume reduction, product recovery and separation of toxic substances into a small stream, has gained particular interest. In this thesis, the potential for phosphate release and recovery from treated sewage sludge is investigated as an alternative for agricultural use in urban areas. Leaching and recovery experiments were performed on sludge residue from supercritical water oxidation, ash from incineration and dried sludge at different temperatures. Results showed that acid or alkaline leaching is a promising method to release phosphate from sewage sludge treated with supercritical water oxidation, incineration, or drying at 300°C. The leaching is affected by a number of factors, including how the sludge residue has been produced, the origin of the sludge residue, the quantity of chemicals added and the presence of ions in the leachate. The implementation of any particular sludge treatment technology would depend on cost, environmental regulations, and social aspects. The results of this thesis may be beneficial for minimizing the use and cost of chemicals, and give increased knowledge for further development of technology for phosphate recovery. / QC 20100930

A lagoa do Taquaral localiza-se no interior do Parque Portugal, no bairro do Taquaral-Campinas (SP). Foi construída em 1968, por meio do represamento do Córrego Guanabara, principalmente para fins recreativos. Apesar de ter recebido a influência direta de descargas de esgotos durante muitos anos e ainda hoje existirem despejos clandestinos, tem sido pouco estudada. Com a finalidade de conhecer a limnologia e o processo de eutrofização desenvolvido na mesma, foi realizado um estudo incluindo: morfometria da lagoa, determinação da taxa de sedimentação com o uso de armadilhas de sedimentação, determinação da taxa de liberação de fósforo do sedimento, caracterização física, química e biológica da coluna da água e caracterização do sedimento. As amostragens foram realizadas em 2000, considerando, (1) o final do período chuvoso (março), (2) o início do período de estiagem (maio) e (3) o final do período de estiagem (agosto). Com base na morfometria da lagoa, foram escolhidos dois pontos de coleta, sendo um localizado na saída da água, (próximo ao vertedouro, com uma profundidade de 5,70 metros) e outro na região central da lagoa (com uma profundidade de 3,50 metros). Experimentos \"in situ\" com armadilhas foram realizados para: 1) determinar as taxas de sedimentação de sólidos totais, matéria orgânica, inorgânica, clorofila a e fósforo, 2) determinar a liberação de fósforo do sedimento para a coluna da água. As armadilhas que mediram a liberação de fósforo e a sedimentação,permaneceram por um período de incubação de 48 horas. Paralelamente à incubação das armadilhas, foram efetuadas as medidas de temperatura, pH, condutividade, oxigênio dissolvido, penetração de luz, material em suspensão, clorofila \'a\' e feofitina, nutrientes totais e dissolvidos bem como análises das comunidades zooplanctônica e fitoplanctônica. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram valores mais elevados de deposição de material em suspensão no ) período chuvoso (taxa de sedimentação de 24.400 mg/m2.dia e 22.575 mg/m2.dia, nas estações 1 e 2, respectivamente). A maior contribuição do material em suspensão correspondeu à fração orgânica (entre 50 e 60%). A deposição de fósforo total e clorofila apresentaram um comportamento semelhante ao do material em suspensão, com valores máximos no período chuvoso. Para as outras variáveis consideradas, também verificaram-se diferenças temporais. Os dados obtidos para as taxas de sedimentação de material em suspensão e nutrientes, em comparação a outros sistemas, são considerados elevados, demonstrando o acelerado processo de eutrofização. Os resultados do ensaio de liberação de fósforo do sedimento para a coluna da água demonstraram uma liberação de 5 mg P/m2.dia. Entre a comunidade zooplanctônica, os rotíferos e os copépodos foram mais abundantes que os cladóceros. No fitoplâncton, o grupo mais abundante foi o das cianofíceas, seguido pelas clorofíceas. Os fatores externos (precipitação e vento) foram determinantes dos processos físicos, químicos e biológicos na lagoa. / Taquaral lagoon is situated in Portugal Park in Taquaral district in the Campinas city (SP). It was made on 1968 by damming the Guanabara Brook, for entertaining purposes. In spite of the results due to the sewer discharge during many years, which still exist nowadays (illegal discharges), that lagoon has been few studied. In order to know better the limnology and the eutrophication process in development in the lagoon an study was done including: morphology of the lagoon, determination of the sedimentation rates by using sedimentation traps, determination of phosphorus liberation rates from the sediment, physical, chemical and biological characterization of water column and the sediment characterization too. The samples were colleted during three period of the 2000: 1) at the end of rainy weather (March); 2) at the begin of the dry weather (may); 3) at the end of the dry weather (August). Based on the lagoon morphology, two places of collection were selected: one at the near center of the lagoon 3,50 meter deep and the other near the outlet of the water 5,70 meter deep. Experiments in situ, with traps were done in order to: 1) measure sedimentation rates of total solids, organic and inorganic material, chlorophyll a and phosphorous; 2) measure the phosphorus release from the sediment for the water column. The traps used for measuring the phosphorus release and the sedimentation remained for a long time in incubation (48 hours). At the same time of traps incubationthey were done the measurements of temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, light penetration, suspended material, chlorophyll a and feopigments, total and dissolved nutrients as well as analysisof zooplanktonic and phytoplanktonic communities. The resulting data showed higher values of suspended material deposition during the rainy weather (sedimentation rate about 24.400 mg/m2.d and 22.575 mg/m2.d, in the places 1 and 2, respectively). The higher contribution of suspended material is corresponding to the organic fraction (between 50 and 60%). The total phosphorus deposition and the chlorophyll, presented a conduct like the suspended material, with maximum values in the rainy weather. In respect to the other analyzed parameters, it was found a temporal difference. The resulting data for sedimentation rate of suspended material and nutrients, in comparison with other systems are considered high, which shows the high eutrophycation process. The results of the test of phosphorus release from the sediment to the water column demonstrated a release about 5 mg P/m2.d. In the zooplanktonic community, the rotifers and copepods were more abundant than the cladocerans. In the phytoplankton the group more abundant was that of cianoficeas, followed by cloroficeas. Outside influences, like wind and rain were determinatives for the physical, chemical and biological processes in the lagoon.

The laboratory-scale University of Cape Town (UCT) process was designed to investigate the effects of changing COD/TP ratios on the performance of biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes. Specific objectives of the research were to investigate the effects of COD/TP ratio on the rates of phosphorus removal, COD removal, nitrogen removal, PHB utilization and oxygen uptake. The system was fed with municipal wastewater and operated at 20° C. The influent COD concentration was held approximately constant while the phosphorus concentration was varied to obtained the desired COD/TP ratio. Once robust enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) has been established, the COD/TP ratios of 20, 30, 40 and 60 were investigated. The COD/TP ratio of the influent wastewater was observed to have a substantial effect upon the performance of the UCT BNR system. The amount of phosphorus removed by the system and the percent phosphorus in the aerobic zone MLVSS decreased as the COD/TP ratio increased. In addition, the amount of phosphorus released in the anaerobic zone per unit of COD removed in the anaerobic zone increased as the COD/TP ratio decreased. From this research, the amount of anaerobic COD removal required to remove 1 mg/L of phosphorus in the aerobic zone approached a minimum value as the COD/TP ratio decreased. It was also shown that PHB production increased as the COD/TP ratio increased. The highest specific oxygen uptake rate was always observed in the second aerobic reactor and tended to increase as the COD/TP ratio increased. However, the changes in the COD/TP ratio did not significant affect COD removal, nitrogen removal and the observed yield coefficient, but did strongly affect the MLSS concentration. The MLSS concentration at the COD/TP ratio of 60 was only 55% of that at the COD/TP ratio of 20. A high level of anaerobic COD removal, an elevated percent phosphorus in the waste activated sludge (WAS) and a high soluble effluent phosphorus concentration can be used as indicators that the system is operating under COD limiting conditions. Several phenomena were also observed during this research. Firstly, the performance of the UCT BNR system for EBPR was greatly enhanced by reducing the aerobic volume. Secondly, the correlation between non-oxic phosphorus release and the aerobic phosphorus uptake improved when anoxic phosphorus release was taking into consideration. This indicated that the anoxic phosphorus release was not secondary release once the aerobic zone volume was reduced. Finally, no denitrification was observed in the aerobic zone from this study, based on the assumption that 12% of nitrogen was required for bacterial growth. / Master of Science

Externe Einträge von Nährstoffen, vor allem von Phosphor, fördern die Phytoplanktonentwicklung und sind damit die primäre Ursache für die Verschlechterung der Gewässergüte in Seen. Die pelagische Nahrungsnetzstruktur kann dabei sowohl positiv als auch negativ auf die Gewässergüte einwirken. Deshalb lässt sich der Gewässerzustand durch eine gezielte Steuerung der Räuber-Beute-Verhältnisse verändern. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden Ergebnisse der Groß-Enclosure-Experimente zu den Auswirkungen von Nährstoffen (mit/ohne Zugabe von Nährstoffen) sowie von einer manipulierten Nahrungsnetzstruktur (mit/ohne Zugabe von planktivoren Fischen) auf die pelagische Phyto- und Zooplanktongemeinschaft eines thermisch geschichteten Sees (Dagowsee, Brandenburg) präsentiert. Im Schwerpunkt der Untersuchungen lagen dabei die qualitativen und quantitativen Effekte dieser beiden Faktoren auf die Sedimentationsprozesse sowie den mikrobiellen Umsatz von Kohlenstoff und Phosphor im Hypolimnion und an der Sediment-Wasser-Kontaktzone des Sees. Es wurde gezeigt, dass die Manipulation der Nahrungsnetzstruktur sich auf die Menge und Zusammensetzung des Phyto- und Zooplanktons im Epilimnion des Sees sowie auf den quantitativen vertikalen Transport von Kohlenstoff und Phosphor auswirkte, während die unterschiedliche Nährstoffbelastung im Epilimnion die spezifischen Stoffgehalte des Kohlenstoffs und Phosphors im sedimentierten Material beeinflussten. Anhand der Sauerstoff- und Methanmessungen wurde festgestellt, dass die Intensität des mikrobiellen Abbaus der sedimentierten organischen Substanz vor allem von ihrer Menge abhängig war. Weiterhin konnten die Auswirkungen der manipulierten Nahrungsnetzstruktur auf die Effizienz während des Abbaus vom organischen Kohlenstoff in den Laborversuchen nachgewiesen werden. Diese Effekte waren allerdings in den Freilandexperimenten schwer nachweisbar aufgrund der Beteiligung der Abbauprodukte in anderen oxidativ-reduktiven Prozessen, die gleichzeitig im See verliefen. Anhand des Phosphor-Fraktionierungsverfahrens konnte festgestellt werden, dass dieser Stoff nicht organisch sondern zum größten Teil an Eisen und Mangen gebunden sowie labil adsorbiert die Sedimentoberfläche erreichte. An dieser Stelle zeigten diese beiden Fraktionen einen systematischen Unterschied, der nur auf eine Wirkung der epilimnischen Nährstoffkonzentration und nicht auf die des manipulierten Nahrungsnetzes hinwies. Weitere Analysen der Sedimente zeigten starke Transformationen des sedimentierten Phosphors, aufgrund deren vor allem die dominierenden labilen und redoxsensitiven Phosphorfraktionen betroffen waren. Sie wurden zum einen ins Wasser zurückgelöst und zum anderen in die organische Biomasse gespeichert. Die Veränderungen des Phosphorgehaltes in den Sedimenten waren wieder auf die vorherigen Effekte der Nährstoffe als der manipulierten Nahrungsnetzstruktur zurückzuführen. Die Effekte der Nahrungsnetzmanipulation waren also vor allem an der pelagischen Planktongemeinschaft im Epilimnion und an den Sedimentations- und Kohlenumsatzprozessen in tieferen Schichten des Sees zu sehen. Der vertikale Phosphortransport wurde weniger von der Nahrungsnetzstruktur beeinflusst. Dafür spielte dabei die epilimnische Nährstoffkonzentration sowie die Phosphorbindungspotenzial des Wassers für den internen Kreislauf des Stoffes eine wichtige Rolle. / External load of nutrients, above all from phosphorus, promote the phytoplankton development and are with it the primary cause for the deterioration of the waters quality in lakes. Further, the pelagic food web structure can affect the water quality in a positive as well as in a negative way. Therefore, the water trophic state can be changed by a specific control of the predator-prey relations. In the present study the results of the large enclosure experiments to the impact by nutrients (with/without addition of nutrients) as well as by a manipulated food web structure (with/without addition of planktivorous fish) on the pelagic phyto- and zooplankton community of a thermally stratified lake (Dagowsee, Brandenburg) were presented. Furthermore, the qualitative and quantitative effects of these both factors on the sedimentation processes as well as the microbial turnover of settled carbon and phosphorus in the hypolimnion and at the sediment-water layer of the lake were in the main focus of the investigations. It has been shown that the manipulation of the food web structure affected the amount and composition of the phyto- and zooplankton in the epilimnion as well as the quantitative vertical transport of carbon and phosphorus, while the different nutrient load in the epilimnion influenced the specific material content of the carbon and phosphorus in the sedimented material. With the help of the oxygen and methane measurements it was found out that the intensity of the microbial decomposition of the settled organic matter was dependent above all on her quantity. Furthermore, the effects of the manipulated food web structure on the decomposition efficiency of the organic carbon could be proved in the laboratory tests. However, these effects were in the free land experiments hardly provably due to the participation of the endproducts in other redox processes which ran at the same time in the lake. With the help of the phosphorus fractionation procedure could be found out that settled phosphorus for the most part not organically but in iron and manganese bound as well as loosely adsorbed the sediment surface reached. At this point these both forms showed a systematic difference which pointed only to an effect of the epilimnetic nutrient concentration and not on those of the manipulated food web. Other analyses of the sediments showed strong transformations of the settled phosphorus, which influenced above all the dominating labile and redox sensitive phosphorus fractions. They were released, on the one hand, in the water and stored, on the other hand, in the organic biomass. The changes of the phosphorus content in the sediments were to be led on the previous effects of the nutrients than of the manipulated food web structure. To conclude, the effects of the food net manipulation were to be seen above all in the pelagic plankton community in the epilimnion, and further in sedimentation and carbon turnover processes in deeper layers of the lake. The vertical phosphorus transport was influenced of less by the food web structure. Moreover, for it the epilimnic nutrient concentration as well as the phosphorus binding potential of the water played an important role for the internal circulation of the material.

Many agricultural fields that have received long-term applications of P often contain levels of P exceeding those required for optimal crop production. Knowledge of the effect of the P remaining in the soil (residual effect) is of great importance for fertilization management. In order to characterize P forms in soils, a wide variety of methods have been proposed. The use of dialysis membrane tubes filled with hydrous ferric oxide (DMT-HFO) has recently been reported as an effective way to characterize P desorption over a long-term in laboratoty studies. However, there is little information on the relationship between kinetics of P release using this new method and plant P uptake. This method consist of a procedure of shaking a sample for a long period of time there by exploiting the whole volume of the soil which is in contrast to the actual plant mode of uptake. This method has also practical limitations in employing it for a routine soil analysis, as it is very expensive and time consuming. The objectives of this study were (i) to study the changes in labile, non-labile and residual P using successive P desorption by DMT-HFO followed by a subsequent fractionation method (combined method) (ii) to assess how the information gained from P desorption kinetic data relates to plant growth at green house and field trials (iii) to investigate the effect of varying shaking time on DMT-HFO extractable P and (iv) to propose a short cut approach to the combined method. The release kinetics of the plots from long term fertilizer trials at the University of Pretoria and Ermelo were studied. P desorption kinetics were described relatively well by a two-component first-order model (R2 = 0.947, 0.918,&0.993 for NPK, MNK,&MNPK treatments respectively). The relative contributions of both the labile pool (SPA) and the less labile pool (SPB) to the total P extracted increased with increased P supply levels. Significant correlations were observed between the rate coefficients and maize grain yield for both soil types. The correlation between the cumulative P extracted and maize yield (r = 0.997**) however was highly significant for Ermelo soils. This method was also used to determine the changes in the different P pools and to relate these P fractions with maize yield. Highly significant correlations were observed between maize grain yield and the different P fractions including total P. In both soil types the contribution of both the labile and non-labile inorganic P fractions in replenishing the solution Pi was significant where as the contributions from the organic fractions were limited. The C/HCl-Pi is the fraction that decreased most in both cases as well. Investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of varying shaking periods on the extractable DMT-HFO-Pi for UP soils of varying P levels. Four shaking options were applied. Significant difference was observed for the treatment of high P application. Shaking option 2 seemed relatively better than the others since it showed the strongest correlation. Thus for soils with high releasing kinetics and high total P content, provided that the P release from the soil is a rate limiting step, reducing the length of shaking time could shorten the duration one needs to complete the experiment with out influencing the predicting capacity of the methodology. The other objective of this thesis was also to present a short cut method alternative to the combined fractionation method. Comparison of the sum of DMT-HFO-Pi, NaHCO3-Pi, NaOH-Pi, D/HCl-Pi and C/HCl-Pi extracted by a conventional step-by-step method with the sum of DMT-HFO-Pi and a single C/HCl-Pi extraction as a short cut approach for all extraction periods resulted in strong and significant correlations. The C/HCl-Pi fraction extracted by both methods was correlated with maize grain yield and it was found to be highly significant. This study revealed that this short cut approach could be a simplified and economically viable option to study the P dynamics of soils especially for soils where the P pool acting as a source in replenishing the labile portion of P is already identified. The method employed here therefore could act as an analytical tool to approximate successive cropping experiments carried out under green house or field condition. However, data from a wider range of soils is needed to evaluate the universality of this method. More work is also required in relating desorption indices of this method with yield parameters especially at field level. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Plant Production and Soil Science / PhD / unrestricted

Externe Einträge von Nährstoffen, vor allem von Phosphor, fördern die Phytoplanktonentwicklung und sind damit die primäre Ursache für die Verschlechterung der Gewässergüte in Seen. Die pelagische Nahrungsnetzstruktur kann dabei sowohl positiv als auch negativ auf die Gewässergüte einwirken. Deshalb lässt sich der Gewässerzustand durch eine gezielte Steuerung der Räuber-Beute-Verhältnisse verändern. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden Ergebnisse der Groß-Enclosure-Experimente zu den Auswirkungen von Nährstoffen (mit/ohne Zugabe von Nährstoffen) sowie von einer manipulierten Nahrungsnetzstruktur (mit/ohne Zugabe von planktivoren Fischen) auf die pelagische Phyto- und Zooplanktongemeinschaft eines thermisch geschichteten Sees (Dagowsee, Brandenburg) präsentiert. Im Schwerpunkt der Untersuchungen lagen dabei die qualitativen und quantitativen Effekte dieser beiden Faktoren auf die Sedimentationsprozesse sowie den mikrobiellen Umsatz von Kohlenstoff und Phosphor im Hypolimnion und an der Sediment-Wasser-Kontaktzone des Sees. Es wurde gezeigt, dass die Manipulation der Nahrungsnetzstruktur sich auf die Menge und Zusammensetzung des Phyto- und Zooplanktons im Epilimnion des Sees sowie auf den quantitativen vertikalen Transport von Kohlenstoff und Phosphor auswirkte, während die unterschiedliche Nährstoffbelastung im Epilimnion die spezifischen Stoffgehalte des Kohlenstoffs und Phosphors im sedimentierten Material beeinflussten. Anhand der Sauerstoff- und Methanmessungen wurde festgestellt, dass die Intensität des mikrobiellen Abbaus der sedimentierten organischen Substanz vor allem von ihrer Menge abhängig war. Weiterhin konnten die Auswirkungen der manipulierten Nahrungsnetzstruktur auf die Effizienz während des Abbaus vom organischen Kohlenstoff in den Laborversuchen nachgewiesen werden. Diese Effekte waren allerdings in den Freilandexperimenten schwer nachweisbar aufgrund der Beteiligung der Abbauprodukte in anderen oxidativ-reduktiven Prozessen, die gleichzeitig im See verliefen. Anhand des Phosphor-Fraktionierungsverfahrens konnte festgestellt werden, dass dieser Stoff nicht organisch sondern zum größten Teil an Eisen und Mangen gebunden sowie labil adsorbiert die Sedimentoberfläche erreichte. An dieser Stelle zeigten diese beiden Fraktionen einen systematischen Unterschied, der nur auf eine Wirkung der epilimnischen Nährstoffkonzentration und nicht auf die des manipulierten Nahrungsnetzes hinwies. Weitere Analysen der Sedimente zeigten starke Transformationen des sedimentierten Phosphors, aufgrund deren vor allem die dominierenden labilen und redoxsensitiven Phosphorfraktionen betroffen waren. Sie wurden zum einen ins Wasser zurückgelöst und zum anderen in die organische Biomasse gespeichert. Die Veränderungen des Phosphorgehaltes in den Sedimenten waren wieder auf die vorherigen Effekte der Nährstoffe als der manipulierten Nahrungsnetzstruktur zurückzuführen. Die Effekte der Nahrungsnetzmanipulation waren also vor allem an der pelagischen Planktongemeinschaft im Epilimnion und an den Sedimentations- und Kohlenumsatzprozessen in tieferen Schichten des Sees zu sehen. Der vertikale Phosphortransport wurde weniger von der Nahrungsnetzstruktur beeinflusst. Dafür spielte dabei die epilimnische Nährstoffkonzentration sowie die Phosphorbindungspotenzial des Wassers für den internen Kreislauf des Stoffes eine wichtige Rolle. / External load of nutrients, above all from phosphorus, promote the phytoplankton development and are with it the primary cause for the deterioration of the waters quality in lakes. Further, the pelagic food web structure can affect the water quality in a positive as well as in a negative way. Therefore, the water trophic state can be changed by a specific control of the predator-prey relations. In the present study the results of the large enclosure experiments to the impact by nutrients (with/without addition of nutrients) as well as by a manipulated food web structure (with/without addition of planktivorous fish) on the pelagic phyto- and zooplankton community of a thermally stratified lake (Dagowsee, Brandenburg) were presented. Furthermore, the qualitative and quantitative effects of these both factors on the sedimentation processes as well as the microbial turnover of settled carbon and phosphorus in the hypolimnion and at the sediment-water layer of the lake were in the main focus of the investigations. It has been shown that the manipulation of the food web structure affected the amount and composition of the phyto- and zooplankton in the epilimnion as well as the quantitative vertical transport of carbon and phosphorus, while the different nutrient load in the epilimnion influenced the specific material content of the carbon and phosphorus in the sedimented material. With the help of the oxygen and methane measurements it was found out that the intensity of the microbial decomposition of the settled organic matter was dependent above all on her quantity. Furthermore, the effects of the manipulated food web structure on the decomposition efficiency of the organic carbon could be proved in the laboratory tests. However, these effects were in the free land experiments hardly provably due to the participation of the endproducts in other redox processes which ran at the same time in the lake. With the help of the phosphorus fractionation procedure could be found out that settled phosphorus for the most part not organically but in iron and manganese bound as well as loosely adsorbed the sediment surface reached. At this point these both forms showed a systematic difference which pointed only to an effect of the epilimnetic nutrient concentration and not on those of the manipulated food web. Other analyses of the sediments showed strong transformations of the settled phosphorus, which influenced above all the dominating labile and redox sensitive phosphorus fractions. They were released, on the one hand, in the water and stored, on the other hand, in the organic biomass. The changes of the phosphorus content in the sediments were to be led on the previous effects of the nutrients than of the manipulated food web structure. To conclude, the effects of the food net manipulation were to be seen above all in the pelagic plankton community in the epilimnion, and further in sedimentation and carbon turnover processes in deeper layers of the lake. The vertical phosphorus transport was influenced of less by the food web structure. Moreover, for it the epilimnic nutrient concentration as well as the phosphorus binding potential of the water played an important role for the internal circulation of the material.