Biogeochemistry of Phosphorus in Wetlands

Wetlands buffer the interactions between uplands and adjacent aquatic systems. As such, the ability of wetlands to retain phosphorus (P) is key to determining downstream water quality. This chapter presents a review on the forms of P in wetland soils, inorganic P retention mechanisms in wetland soils, organic P transformations in wetlands soils, and P assimilation capacity of wetlands. In addition to wetlands related sources, it presents related literature from uplands and aquatic systems in the context of wetlands, since the basic processes functioning in these systems are the same as those in wetlands. Methodologies developed in studies of P biogeochemistry of upland and aquatic ecosystems have been extremely useful in understanding the fate of P in wetland ecosystems. Mobilization of P within soils by mineralization processes can release large quantities of inorganic and organic P in soluble and stabilized forms.