Soil Variables and Residential Yard Management Practices Significantly Influence Phosphorus Availability in Contrasting Cities

Start Date

4-4-2023 4:00 PM

End Date

4-4-2023 6:00 PM

Abstract

As the extent of urban areas increases over time, activities in urban residential landscapes exert greater influence on biogeochemical cycling. Although these urban settings can provide important ecosystem services, they also contribute to unintended environmental consequences, such as phosphorus (P) pollution of aquatic systems. To better manage pollution and project alternative trajectories for urban ecosystems, there is a need to understand how residential yard management practices affect ecological outcomes in the American Residential Macrosystem (ARM).

Across different climate and geographical settings, the ARM is undergoing ecological homogenization with respect to plant biodiversity, hydrology and soil nutrient pools and processes. Previous studies have shown that there is no consistent increase in potential net nitrogen mineralization and nitrification rates in residential yard soils with fertilizer addition. Research also shows that P availability in soil augments the effect of nitrogen addition. However, there has not been a parallel investigation of soil P pools and dynamics in the ARM. This research investigates how soil variables and varying yard management practices, and geographic settings significantly influence patterns and concentrations of available phosphorus.

In this study, soil samples were collected at two soil depths from five different yard management typologies in Los Angeles and Baltimore. Available P was extracted using Mehlich 3 extraction method, and P concentrations were analyzed colorimetrically. Results were analyzed using ordinary least squares regression model.

Results showed significant differences in soil pH and soil Organic matter across the management typologies for the two cities. Also, the Ordinary Least square model indicated that soil pH, reference, and interstitial management typologies significantly influence the concentration of available P for both Los Angeles and Baltimore cities.

Subjects

Environmental education, Land/watershed management, Soil science

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/40475

Rights

© Copyright the author(s)

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Apr 4th, 4:00 PM Apr 4th, 6:00 PM

Soil Variables and Residential Yard Management Practices Significantly Influence Phosphorus Availability in Contrasting Cities

As the extent of urban areas increases over time, activities in urban residential landscapes exert greater influence on biogeochemical cycling. Although these urban settings can provide important ecosystem services, they also contribute to unintended environmental consequences, such as phosphorus (P) pollution of aquatic systems. To better manage pollution and project alternative trajectories for urban ecosystems, there is a need to understand how residential yard management practices affect ecological outcomes in the American Residential Macrosystem (ARM).

Across different climate and geographical settings, the ARM is undergoing ecological homogenization with respect to plant biodiversity, hydrology and soil nutrient pools and processes. Previous studies have shown that there is no consistent increase in potential net nitrogen mineralization and nitrification rates in residential yard soils with fertilizer addition. Research also shows that P availability in soil augments the effect of nitrogen addition. However, there has not been a parallel investigation of soil P pools and dynamics in the ARM. This research investigates how soil variables and varying yard management practices, and geographic settings significantly influence patterns and concentrations of available phosphorus.

In this study, soil samples were collected at two soil depths from five different yard management typologies in Los Angeles and Baltimore. Available P was extracted using Mehlich 3 extraction method, and P concentrations were analyzed colorimetrically. Results were analyzed using ordinary least squares regression model.

Results showed significant differences in soil pH and soil Organic matter across the management typologies for the two cities. Also, the Ordinary Least square model indicated that soil pH, reference, and interstitial management typologies significantly influence the concentration of available P for both Los Angeles and Baltimore cities.