Phosphorus retention in streambank sediment

This study was initiated to determine if there was a mass flow of phosphorus (P) into streambank sediment in a second-order, losing stream in the Paluxy River watershed. Vertical and horizontal core samples were collected at 3 locations. Particle size distribution, water extractable P and total P were determined on each sample. Sediment was primarily sandy loam and loam. Water extractable P ranged from 1.79 mg/kg to 0.03 mg/kg with a median of 0.41 mg/kg. Total P ranged from 21.9 mg/kg to 3.05 mg/kg with a median of 3.46 mg/kg. Results did not indicate a gradient of P into the streambank, unlike a similar stream in the Bosque River watershed.