Why Does Phosphorus Added to Wetlands Accumulate in Soils

1 Why Does Phosphorus Added to Wetlands Accumulate in Soils  

Phosphorus accumulation in wetlands is regulated by vegetation, periphyton and plankton, plant litter and detrital accumulation, soil physicochemical properties, water flow velocity, water depth, hydraulic retention time, length-to-width ratio of the wetland, phosphorus loading, and hydrologic fluctuations. In evaluating wetlands for phosphorus accumulation, it is necessary to consider the following  

Short-term storage and associated phosphorus dynamics signihcantly impact long-term storage and discharge water quality. 

Following are the examples of wetlands, where long-term phosphorus loading has resulted in soil phosphorus gradients  

Gradient in nutrient enrichment in soil/water (Distance from inflow) 

---