Wetland Ecosystem Reference Conditions

To determine the impact of anthropogenic nutrients or contaminants and natural disturbances (fire, hurricanes, and droughts) on wetlands, the background conditions must be established using a wetland that is not impacted by nutrients, contaminants, and natural disturbances. In many regions, it 

FIGURE 15.5 Total soil phosphorus of soils as a function of depth. A = soil core from reference condition B = soil core from transition zone C = soil core from nutrient-impacted zone. (From Reddy et ah, 1993.) 

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