Nitrogen and phosphor compounds in bottom sediments: mechanisms of accumulation, transformation and release

Abstract

This paper is an overview of Russian literature dealing with the accumulation, the transformations and the release of phosphate and nitrogen compounds in a great number of Russian lakes and reservoirs. A considerable data bank has been analysed. Special attention is given to the relations of N- and P-accumulation with the input and transformation of organic carbon, as well as to the release mechanisms, often in relation to eutrophication of the lakes and reservoirs.

It is shown that the major input of organic matter into the sediments comes from autochthonous material, and is usually > 70 %. The relative importance of phytoplankton and macrophytes as sources of organic matter is discussed; it appears that trophic state, depth and other factors may have a large influence on this ratio. In shallow eutrophic lakes macrophytes may be the source of organic matter, which source can amount to 1.5–2.5 times that of phytoplankton.

It is also shown that the C/N ratio is not a good indicator of the source of the organic matter, because their C/N ratios often are not very different. The decomposition rate of organic matter was analysed; it depends on trophic state and other factors.

Sediment N accumulation is mostly (> 90%) in organic form, and depends on nitrogen and organic matter inputs coming from phytoplankton or macrophytes. A correlation coefficient of 0.9–0.95 was found in 176 lakes. In 113 lakes the N accumulation was 0.11 x C accumulation, with C/N ratios between 7.4 and 12.9. Ammonification was rather constant in different groups of lakes; values were often about 20–25 mg m⁻² d⁻¹. The presence of the different forms of nitrogen in interstitial water and in adsorbed forms is discussed. The N in interstitial water is usually in the form of NH₃.

Sediment P-accumulation is usually in inorganic form and is related to primary production. Three different groups of sediments could be distinguished with C/P ratios of 31–100, of 101–350 and > 350. In hard water lakes P sedimentation was found to be 0.3–0.5 times that in soft water lakes with comparable primary production. The relative occurrence of apatite, non-apatite and residual P in sediments was calculated. In the interstitial water the P concentration appeared to be controlled by the input and decomposition of organic matter. The concentration of phosphate dissolved in the interstitial water of the top 2 cm layer is often 10–100 times lower than that of the dissolved N. The concentrations of interstitial phosphate are from a few μgl⁻¹ up to 15 mgl⁻¹, but the higher concentrations occur only rarely. Different types of vertical profiles of P compounds in the sediments were shown to be related with the presence of an oxidised zone, the presence of clay etc. Autochthonous apatite and non-apatite phosphates are more mobile than the allochthonous ones and are in equilibrium with interstitial phosphate. Accumulation of autochthonous apatite in sediments is controlled by decomposition of organic matter and accumulation of carbonates.