Keeping Up with Phosphorus Dynamics: Overdue Conceptual Changes in Vegetative Filter Strip Research and Management
Vegetative filter strips (VFS) are best management practices with the primary aim of protecting surface waters from eutrophication resulting from excess nutrient inputs from agricultural sources. However, we argue that there is a substantial time and knowledge lag from the science underpinning VFS t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.764333/full |
| _version_ | 1818393188678762496 |
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| author | David Ramler David Ramler Marc Stutter Marc Stutter Gabriele Weigelhofer Gabriele Weigelhofer John N. Quinton Rebecca Hood-Nowotny Peter Strauss |
| author_facet | David Ramler David Ramler Marc Stutter Marc Stutter Gabriele Weigelhofer Gabriele Weigelhofer John N. Quinton Rebecca Hood-Nowotny Peter Strauss |
| author_sort | David Ramler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vegetative filter strips (VFS) are best management practices with the primary aim of protecting surface waters from eutrophication resulting from excess nutrient inputs from agricultural sources. However, we argue that there is a substantial time and knowledge lag from the science underpinning VFS to policy and implementation. Focussing on phosphorus (P), we strive to introduce a holistic view on VFS that accounts for the whole functional soil volume, temporal and seasonal effects, the geospatial context, the climatic and physico-chemical basic conditions, and the intricate bio-geochemical processes that govern nutrient retention, transformation, and transport. Specifically, we suggest a step-wise approach to custom VFS designs that links and matches the incoming P from event to multi-annual timescales from the short- and mid-term processes of P retention in the effective soil volume and to the longer-term P retention and offtake coupled to the soil-vegetation system. An a priori assessment of the P export potential should be followed by bespoke VFS designs, in line with local conditions and socio-economic and ecological constraints. To cope with increasingly nutrient saturated or functionally insufficient VFS installed over the last decades, concepts and management strategies need to encompass the transition in understanding of VFS as simple nutrient containers to multifunctional buffer zones that have a complex inner life. We need to address these associated emerging challenges and integrate their implications more thoroughly into VFS research, monitoring, policy, and implementation than ever before. Only then we may get VFS that are effective, sustainable, and persistent. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T05:41:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-832e887bce9e4991aac1a6835e21383e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-665X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T05:41:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-832e887bce9e4991aac1a6835e21383e2022-12-21T23:15:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2022-04-011010.3389/fenvs.2022.764333764333Keeping Up with Phosphorus Dynamics: Overdue Conceptual Changes in Vegetative Filter Strip Research and ManagementDavid Ramler0David Ramler1Marc Stutter2Marc Stutter3Gabriele Weigelhofer4Gabriele Weigelhofer5John N. Quinton6Rebecca Hood-Nowotny7Peter Strauss8Institute for Land and Water Management Research, Federal Agency for Water Management, Petzenkirchen, AustriaWasserCluster Lunz—Biologische Station GmbH, Lunz am See, AustriaThe James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, United KingdomLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United KingdomWasserCluster Lunz—Biologische Station GmbH, Lunz am See, AustriaInstitute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, AustriaLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United KingdomInstitute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, AustriaInstitute for Land and Water Management Research, Federal Agency for Water Management, Petzenkirchen, AustriaVegetative filter strips (VFS) are best management practices with the primary aim of protecting surface waters from eutrophication resulting from excess nutrient inputs from agricultural sources. However, we argue that there is a substantial time and knowledge lag from the science underpinning VFS to policy and implementation. Focussing on phosphorus (P), we strive to introduce a holistic view on VFS that accounts for the whole functional soil volume, temporal and seasonal effects, the geospatial context, the climatic and physico-chemical basic conditions, and the intricate bio-geochemical processes that govern nutrient retention, transformation, and transport. Specifically, we suggest a step-wise approach to custom VFS designs that links and matches the incoming P from event to multi-annual timescales from the short- and mid-term processes of P retention in the effective soil volume and to the longer-term P retention and offtake coupled to the soil-vegetation system. An a priori assessment of the P export potential should be followed by bespoke VFS designs, in line with local conditions and socio-economic and ecological constraints. To cope with increasingly nutrient saturated or functionally insufficient VFS installed over the last decades, concepts and management strategies need to encompass the transition in understanding of VFS as simple nutrient containers to multifunctional buffer zones that have a complex inner life. We need to address these associated emerging challenges and integrate their implications more thoroughly into VFS research, monitoring, policy, and implementation than ever before. Only then we may get VFS that are effective, sustainable, and persistent.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.764333/fullriparian buffer strips (RBS)nutrient managementadaptive designfunctional soil volumeerosionrunoff |
| spellingShingle | David Ramler David Ramler Marc Stutter Marc Stutter Gabriele Weigelhofer Gabriele Weigelhofer John N. Quinton Rebecca Hood-Nowotny Peter Strauss Keeping Up with Phosphorus Dynamics: Overdue Conceptual Changes in Vegetative Filter Strip Research and Management Frontiers in Environmental Science riparian buffer strips (RBS) nutrient management adaptive design functional soil volume erosion runoff |
| title | Keeping Up with Phosphorus Dynamics: Overdue Conceptual Changes in Vegetative Filter Strip Research and Management |
| title_full | Keeping Up with Phosphorus Dynamics: Overdue Conceptual Changes in Vegetative Filter Strip Research and Management |
| title_fullStr | Keeping Up with Phosphorus Dynamics: Overdue Conceptual Changes in Vegetative Filter Strip Research and Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Keeping Up with Phosphorus Dynamics: Overdue Conceptual Changes in Vegetative Filter Strip Research and Management |
| title_short | Keeping Up with Phosphorus Dynamics: Overdue Conceptual Changes in Vegetative Filter Strip Research and Management |
| title_sort | keeping up with phosphorus dynamics overdue conceptual changes in vegetative filter strip research and management |
| topic | riparian buffer strips (RBS) nutrient management adaptive design functional soil volume erosion runoff |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.764333/full |
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