Characteristics and Distribution of Phosphorus in Surface Sediments of Limnetic Ecosystem in Eastern China

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 11; no. 6; p. e0156488
• Main Authors: Zhang, Wenqiang, Jin, Xin, Zhu, Xiaolei, Shan, Baoqing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 09.06.2016; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Agricultural management; Agriculture; Agrochemicals; Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic organisms; Biology and Life Sciences; China; Composition; Diesters; Earth Sciences; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Ecosystem; Ecosystems; Environmental aspects; Environmental factors; Environmental Monitoring; Eutrophication; Fertilizers; Fluvial sediments; Freshwater; Geologic Sediments - analysis; Industrial development; Inflow; Lake sediments; Lakes; Magnetic resonance; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; People and Places; pH effects; Phosphorus; Phosphorus (Chemical element); Phosphorus - analysis; Physicochemical properties; Regional analysis; River systems; Rivers; Rivers - chemistry; Sediment pollution; Sediments; Sewage; Speciation; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Watersheds; Wetlands; China; China, People's Rep
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156488

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for aquatic organisms; however, excessive P inflow to limnetic ecosystems can induce eutrophication. P concentrations in the rivers, wetlands and lakes of Eastern China have been amplified by fertilizer and sewage inputs associated with the development of industry and agriculture. Yet, knowledge of the distribution and speciation of P is lacking at the regional scale. We determined the distribution and speciation of P in limnetic ecosystems in Eastern China using Standards, Measurements and Testing (SMT) and phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR). The results indicate that P pollution in surface sediments was serious. Inorganic P (Pi) was the primary drive of variation in total P (TP) among different river systems, and Pi accounted for 71% to 90% of TP in surface sediment in Eastern China. Also, the concentrations of TP and Pi varied among watersheds and Pi primarily drove the variation in TP in different watersheds. Sediments less than 10-cm deep served as the main P reservoir. Environmental factors affect the speciation and origin of P. NaOH-Pi, HCl-Pi and organic P (Po) were related to pH accordingly at the regional scale. The physicochemical properties of sediments from different limnetic ecosystems affect the P speciation. HCl-Pi was higher in wetland sediments than in riverine and lake sediments in Eastern China. Conversely, NaOH-Pi was lowest in wetland sediments. Total Po concentration was lower in riverine sediments than in other sediments, but Mono-P was higher, with an average concentration of 48 mg kg-1. Diesters-P was highest in lake sediments. By revealing the regional distribution of TP, Pi and Po, this study will support eutrophication management in Eastern China.