Inorganic/Soluble Phosphorus

The amount of soluble, inorganic phosphorus in the stream may be increased by the mineralization of organic phosphorus and diffusion of inorganic phosphorus from the streambed sediments. The soluble phosphorus concentration in the stream may be decreased by the uptake of inorganic P by algae. The change in soluble phosphorus for a given day is:

ΔsolPstr=(βP,4orgPstr+σ2(1000depth)α2μaalgae)TT\Delta solP_{str}=(\beta_{P,4}*orgP_{str}+\frac{\sigma_2}{(1000*depth)}-\alpha_2*\mu _a*algae)*TT 7:3.3.4

where ΔsolPstr\Delta solP_{str} is the change in solution phosphorus concentration (mg P/L), βP,4\beta_{P,4} is the rate constant for mineralization of organic phosphorus (day1^{-1} or hr1^{-1}), orgPstrorgP_{str} is the organic phosphorus concentration at the beginning of the day (mg P/L), σ2\sigma_2 is the benthos (sediment) source rate for soluble P (mg P/m2^2-day or mg P/m2^2-hr), depthdepth is the depth of water in the channel (m), α2\alpha_2 is the fraction of algal biomass that is phosphorus (mg P/mg alg biomass), μa\mu_a is the local growth rate of algae (day1^{-1} or hr1^{-1}), algaealgae is the algal biomass concentration at the beginning of the day (mg alg/L), and TTTT is the flow travel time in the reach segment (day or hr). The local rate constant for mineralization of organic phosphorus is calculated with equation 7:3.3.2. Section 7:3.1.2.1 describes the calculation of the local growth rate of algae. The calculation of depth and travel time is reviewed in Chapter 7:1.

The user defines the benthos source rate for soluble P at 20°\degreeC. The benthos source rate for soluble phosphorus is adjusted to the local water temperature using the relationship:

σ2=σ2,201.074(Twater20)\sigma _2 =\sigma_{2,20} *1.074^{(T_{water}-20)} 7:3.3.5

where σ2\sigma_2 is the benthos (sediment) source rate for soluble P (mg P/m2^2-day or mg P/m2^2-hr),σ2,20\sigma_{2,20} is the benthos (sediment) source rate for soluble phosphorus at 20°\degreeC (mg P/m2^2-day or mg P/m2^2-hr), and TwaterT_{water} is the average water temperature for the day or hour (°\degreeC).

Table 7:3-3: SWAT+ input variables used in in-stream phosphorus calculations.

Variable Name
Definition
File Name

AI2

α2\alpha_2: Fraction of algal biomass that is phosphorus (mg P/mg alg biomass)

.wwq

RHOQ

ρa,20\rho_{a,20}: Local algal respiration rate at 20°\degreeC (day1^{-1})

.wwq

BC4

βP,4,20\beta_{P,4,20}: Local rate constant for organic phosphorus mineralization at 20°\degreeC (day1^{-1})

.swq

RS5

σ5,20\sigma_{5,20}: Local settling rate for organic phosphorus at 20°\degreeC (day1^{-1})

.swq

RS2

σ2,20\sigma_{2,20} : Benthos (sediment) source rate for soluble phosphorus at 20°\degreeC (mg P/m2^2-day)

.swq

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