Acids and bases in natural water; alkalinity, pH and buffer capacity - Nutrient loads and exports - Nutrient retention

3 important questions on Acids and bases in natural water; alkalinity, pH and buffer capacity - Nutrient loads and exports - Nutrient retention

What is nutrient retention?

The difference between inputs and the exported loads.
The difference between the incoming load and the exported load within a certain timeframe and within certain spatial boundaries.
Timeframe: season or year, but depending on the scope of research  
spatial boundaries: catchment, network of ditches, river stretch or lake

What are the two cases of nutrient retention?

Outgoing load < incoming load: water system acts as sink for nutrients. Retention has positive value.
Outgoing load > incoming load: for instance in lakes with laoded sediments or streams during periods of high flow conditions.  Retention has negeative value.

What are the main processes that remove N and P from the water phase?

-sedimentation
-uptake by primary producers (algae and macrophytes)
-denitrification (just N), see par III>

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