Spatial distribution of phosphorus forms in sediments with different distances to the estuary of the Dianchi Lake, China

Effects of human activity on the distribution of phosphorus (P) forms were investigated for the sediments and porewaters in Daqinghe Estuary of Dianchi Lake, China. The concentrations of total P (TP), inorganic-P (I-P),and organic-P (Org-P), and the ratio of iron-bound P (Fe-P)/calcium-bound P (Ca-P) in the sediments decreased with the increasing distance from the sampling site to the estuary. This is probably due to the flocculant materials, e.g., ferric and aluminous salts, usually being added in the wastewater treatment processes. The concentration of ammonia in the sediment porewaters significantly decreased with the increasing distance from the sampling site to the estuary. Both concentrations of total nitrogen and nitrogen in the sediment porewaters decreased to some content with the increasing distance from the sampling site to the estuary. However, the concentrations of nitrate, dissolved total P (DTP), and TP did not have strong relationship with the distances from the sampling sites to the estuary. Pollution load and water quantity also had an important influence on the concentrations of P in sediments and its interstitial water in estuary sedimentary area.