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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #312369
Title: Bioavailability and preservation of organic phosphorus in freshwater sediments and its role in lake eutrophication

Author
item ZHU, YUANRONG - Chinese Research Academy Of Environmental Sciences
item WU, FENGCHANG - Chinese Research Academy Of Environmental Sciences
item He, Zhongqi

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2015
Publication Date: 10/2/2015
Citation: Zhu, Y., Wu, F., He, Z. 2015. Bioavailability and preservation of organic phosphorus in freshwater sediments and its role in lake eutrophication.In: He, H, Wu, F., editors. Labile Organic Matter - Chemical Composition, Functions, and Significance in Soil and the Environment. SSSA Special Publication 62. Madison, WI:Soil Science Society of America. p.275-294.

Interpretive Summary: The dissolution of organic matter can result in release of phosphorus from lake sediments. On the other hand, organic phosphate (Po) can be an important component of natural organic matter. Per the research on Lake Dianchi that is the representative eutrophic lake in Southwestern China, this chapter presents and discusses the species and bioavailability of Po in the freshwater sediments and their role in lake eutrophication. Correlation analysis revealed that the hydrolysable Po was significantly correlated to total organic carbon in the sediments, implying that eutrophication led to the accumulation of the potential bioavailable Po in the sediments. The observations and insight derived from this chapter are helpful in better understanding of the biological cycles of sediments Po in freshwater lakes, and their contribution in lake eutrophication.

Technical Abstract: Lake eutrophication in China is a serious environmental concern, especially in lakes from the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River region and Southwestern China Plateau. The dissolution of organic matter can result in release of phosphorus (P) from lake sediments and organic phosphate (Po) itself can also be an important component of lake organic matter. In this chapter, case studies with the eutrophic lake sediments from Southwestern China are presented to demonstrate species and bioavailability of Po in the freshwater sediments and their role in lake eutrophication. Sequential extraction, phosphatase hydrolysis, and solution 31P nuclear resonance spectroscopy were used to identify the bioavailability of different P pools in these sediments. Those data show that the biogeochemical cycling of bioavailable Po in sediments might be play an important role in maintaining the eutrophic status of lakes after external input of P has been reduced. The observations and insight derived from this chapter contribute to better understanding of the biological cycles of sediments Po in freshwater lakes, and their contribution in lake eutrophication.