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Assessing the Role of Phosphorus as a Macropollutant in Four Typical Mediterranean Basin Soils

Author

Listed:
  • José Telo da Gama

    (VALORIZA-Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, 7300-110 Portalegre, Portugal
    Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre (IPP), 7300-110 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Luis Loures

    (VALORIZA-Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, 7300-110 Portalegre, Portugal
    Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre (IPP), 7300-110 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • António López-Piñeiro

    (Área de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Facultad de Ciencias–IACYS, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. de Elvas s/n, 06071 Badajoz, Spain)

  • José Rato Nunes

    (VALORIZA-Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, 7300-110 Portalegre, Portugal
    Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre (IPP), 7300-110 Portalegre, Portugal)

Abstract

Available phosphorus (AP) is a key macropollutant predictor of ecosystem services as well as a crucial indicator of soil productivity. Long-term applications of this macronutrient and its implications on sustainability in the face of peak phosphorus harvest have raised some concerns in recent years. This study aimed to characterise the edaphic AP in nearly 15,000 ha of the Mediterranean basin, an agricultural study area whose intensification is increasing with time. Four typical Mediterranean reference soil groups (RSG)—Calcisols, Luvisols, Fluvisols and Cambisols—were analysed and compared for their AP in two different agricultural settings—rain-fed and irrigation—from 2002 to 2012, where 1417 and 1451 topsoil samples were taken, respectively. AP increased from 2002 to 2012 in the irrigated Luvisols ( p < = 0.05), Fluvisols ( p < = 0.01) and Cambisols ( p < = 0.05), while irrigated Calcisols maintained its concentrations ( p > 0.05) over time. For rain-fed soils, the AP did not reveal significant differences in time for all RSG ( p > 0.05). Additionally, irrigated Fluvisols and Cambisols presented 9% ( p < = 0.01) and 68% ( p < = 0.01) higher AP concentrations, respectively, than the corresponding rain-fed RSGs in 2012. We provide predictive maps for both 2002 and 2012. These results suggest that this area is departing from the sustainable goals of ecosystem services equilibrium; proper management practices that counteract the anthropogenic pressures in the area should be adopted.

Suggested Citation

  • José Telo da Gama & Luis Loures & António López-Piñeiro & José Rato Nunes, 2021. "Assessing the Role of Phosphorus as a Macropollutant in Four Typical Mediterranean Basin Soils," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-10, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:19:p:10973-:d:649162
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. José Manuel Naranjo Gómez & Sérgio Lousada & Jacinto Garrido Velarde & Rui Alexandre Castanho & Luís Loures, 2020. "Land-Use Changes in the Canary Archipelago Using the CORINE Data: A Retrospective Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Luís Loures & José Gama & José Rato Nunes & António Lopez-Piñeiro, 2017. "Assessing the Sodium Exchange Capacity in Rainfed and Irrigated Soils in the Mediterranean Basin Using GIS," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-12, March.
    3. José Telo da Gama & Luis Loures & António Lopez-Piñeiro & Derick Quintino & Paulo Ferreira & José Rato Nunes, 2021. "Assessing the Long-Term Impact of Traditional Agriculture and the Mid-Term Impact of Intensification in Face of Local Climatic Changes," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, August.
    4. Mohammad Reza Azimi Sardari & Ommolbanin Bazrafshan & Thomas Panagopoulos & Elham Rafiei Sardooi, 2019. "Modeling the Impact of Climate Change and Land Use Change Scenarios on Soil Erosion at the Minab Dam Watershed," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-21, June.
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