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Eutro-SED Project

Eutrophication hotspots resulting from biogeochemical transformations and bioavailability of phosphorus in the fluvial suspended sediment of geologically contrasting agricultural catchments (Eutro-SED).

Phosphorus (P) release from river sediments has been identified as a contributing factor to waters failing the criteria for 'good ecological status' under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD)

Protecting water resources is of primary importance in a changing world with increased pressures from increased populations, agricultural production and climate change affects to ensure high quality and sustainable freshwater resources into the future.

Eutro-SED aims to identify the contribution of suspended sediment bound and streambed P in geologically contrasting agricultural catchments and gain greater understanding of controlling factors for its sequestration, mobilization and bioavailability under current pressures.

Research Team
Dr. David O'Connell & Prof. Laurence Gill (Trinity College Dublin [TCD] - Consortium Lead)
Dr Faruk Djodjic & Prof. Kevin Bishop (Swedish University of Agriculture [SLU])
Dr Yongfeng Hu (Canadian Light Source [CLU] and University of Saskatchewan [US])

Method and Approach
Eutro-SED is sub-divided into three work-packages each building on the previous with natural overlaps of tasks.

WP.1 Bio-geophysical and characteristics
Focuses on data collection and quantification of processes affecting characteristics and bio-geophysical dynamics affecting fluvial sediment bound P.

WP.2 Phosphorus bioavailability
Investigates fluvial sediment bound P bio-availability dynamics and mobilization in agroecosystems.

WP3. Sedimentary P Modelling
Address regional scale impacts of biogeochemical transformations and dynamics of fluvial sediment bound P bt refining and developing their descriptive mathematical formulations to better constrain P exchange models for agroecosystems.

Partner Institutions and Field-site locations

Consortium Composition
Trinity College Dublin (Lead Partner)
Swedish University of Agriculture (SLU)
Canadian Light Source & University of Saskatchewan (CLS & US)

Agricultural catchments
Irish Catchments
Tintern Abbey
Ballyboughal

Swedish Catchments
TBD
TBD .