Depletion of soil phosphorus as assessed by several indices of phosphorus supplying power

This study attempts to clarify the advantages and shortcomings of various laboratory tests that are used to characterize the status and dynamics of soil phosphorus (P). We analysed a set of soil samples differing in P status for inorganic P fractions, water‐soluble P (Pw60) and bicarbonate‐extractable P (P_Olsen) both before and after a pot experiment in which soil was depleted. Their P exchange characteristics were determined by Q/I plots, fitted by a modified Langmuir equation, and the supplying power was further assessed by extracting soil samples with various amounts of water. The sensitivity of the P tests in assessing the decrease in inorganic reserves of P was expressed using a response index that was defined as the ratio between the decrease in inorganic P and the decrease in soil P test value. For P_Olsen, the index ranged from 6 to 11 and for Pw60 from 10 to 26. Desorption curves obtained by extracting soil samples with different amounts of water indicate increased buffering power and that large reserves of P were released from soil in weak solutions (P < 0.030 mg l^?1) around soil particles. Although the constants of the Langmuir equation responded reasonably well to the changes in reserves of P in the soil, the results suggest caution is needed in the quantitative interpretation of the constant Q₀ (instantly labile P) of the Langmuir equation.     

Is it possible to successfully rear meagre (Argyrosomus regius Asso 1801) larvae without using rotifers?

In hatcheries, meagre Argyrosomus regius larvae still depend on an adequate supply of rotifers and Artemia, as no artificial diet can totally fulfil their nutritional requirements. However, production of live feed is highly expensive and demands intensive labour and specific facilities. This study investigated the effect of a dietary regime without the use of rotifers, to simplify the meagre larval rearing protocol. Two feeding treatments (T₁ & T₂) are compared to investigate their effects on survival and growth of meagre larvae. In T₁, larvae were fed rotifers from 2 to 5 days post hatch (dph), and Artemia from 4 to 15 dph. In T_2, larvae were kept under dark conditions and fed Artemia from 6 to 15 dph. Standard larval length (SL) was significantly higher in T₁ (p < .01) until 8 dph in comparison with larvae reared initially without rotifers. No significant difference in SL was found among treatments (p = .187) at 15 dph. Significant difference was found among treatments in survival rate at 15 dph (p < .003). The survival rate observed at 15 dph in T₂ (30 ± 4.2%) represents an important finding, although the highest survival rate was observed in T₁ (45.0 ± 3.4%). This study showed that it is possible to conduct larval rearing of meagre without using rotifers. Nevertheless, further research efforts are still needed to improve these results in comparison with the common larval rearing protocol.     

The potential for soil phosphorus tests to predict phosphorus losses in overland flow

Soil phosphorus tests offer a potentially powerful tool for land managers trying to predict the areas which will contribute diffuse losses of phosphorus (P) to surface water bodies through the overland flow vector – but do they work? We address this question at a range of scales, from patch (< 1 m²), through plot (several m²) to small watershed (several hectares). Our hypothesis is that as we increase the scale, and therefore the complexity of the system, soil P tests will predict P concentrations and losses associated with overland flow less well, and that this is partly due to a shift from dissolved P losses to P losses associated with eroded soil material. At the patch scale soil P tests were used to predict the P concentration and load from 24 European soils exposed to simulated rainfall under controlled conditions in the laboratory. Results showed that soil P tests were generally good predictors of reactive P <0.45 μm, but did less well at predicting total P > 0.45 μm. By combining the soil P test with measured sediment concentrations predictions of total P concentrations improved. Outdoor rainfall simulation experiments on bare soil plots (10 m²) revealed the overwhelming influence of particle bound P losses compared with P losses in the water phase. Soil P tests, which relate primarily to the dissolved P fractions in soil, were not able to predict total P losses, but were related to reactive P < 0.45 μm losses. At the watershed scale soil P tests were able to predict reactive P < 0.45 μm losses, but with considerable uncertainty. We conclude that soil P tests, in combination with sediment concentration provide a useful means of assessing the mobilization of P in overland flow, but should not be expected to provide watershed scale predictions of the movement of P into overland flow.