Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
4494239 
Journal Article 
Analytical Geochemistry of Organic Phosphorus and Its Correlation with Organic Carbon in Marine and Fluvial Sediments and Soils 
Ramirez, AJ; Rose, AW 
1992 
Yes 
American Journal of Science
ISSN: 0002-9599 
KLINE GEOLOGY LABORATORY 
NEW HAVEN 
292 
6 
421-454 
WOS:A1992HV94500003 
A study was undertaken to determine the global distribution of phosphorus and the manner in which it is fractionated in different geochemical environments. A literature search was performed to obtain better estimates of the involvement of phosphorus in various geochemical processes. Data reviewed using plots of C versus P show C/P wt ratios of 190, 142, 154, and 181 for organic matter in marine sediments, lacustrine sediments, soils, and riverine-suspended solids, respectively. An average organic C/P wt ratio of 193 is recommended as the mean weight ratio of organic C/P in rivers. The particulate organic phosphorus (POP) flux into the ocean is estimated as 0.93 Gkg/yr. Published research indicates that an average of 3% of total particulate phosphorus (TPP) is soluble and exchangeable and that this fraction is highly correlated with bioavailability. The flux of this inorganic phosphorus fraction is estimated as 0.60 Gkg/yr. These estimates show that the maximum flux of TPP that participates in the marine biogeochemical cycle is on the order of 1.5 Gkg/yr (organic + soluble-exchangeable fractions). This number added to the total dissolved phosphorus flux of 1.0 Gkg/yr yields a flux of 2.5 Gkg/yr-P which may be biogeochemically active. (Author's abstract) 55 04 Jun 92 
*Geochemistry; *Phosphorus; *Organic carbon; *Sediments; Oceans; Marine sediments; *Soil chemistry; Literature review; Bioavailability; Biogeochemical cycle