Impact of long-term water level fluctuation on the distribution, transport, and fate of phosphorus in reservoir sediment

Yu, Huijuan; Xu, Shiguo; Tian, Wen; Zhu, Lin; Sun, Ya

doi:10.1007/s11356-019-06415-0

Research Article
Published: 13 September 2019

Impact of long-term water level fluctuation on the distribution, transport, and fate of phosphorus in reservoir sediment

Huijuan Yu¹,
Shiguo Xu¹,
Wen Tian¹,
Lin Zhu¹ &
Ya Sun¹

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 26, pages 33146–33156 (2019)Cite this article

313 Accesses
4 Citations
Metrics details

Abstract

Water level fluctuation zone (WLFZ) with changeable environmental conditions would affect the transport and release of nutrients in the sediment. To investigate the influence of long-term water level fluctuations on sediment phosphorus (P), a reservoir sediment partitioning method based on historical water level was developed and applied in the Biliuhe Reservoir. The reservoir sediment was divided into frequent fluctuation zone (FFZ), fluctuation zone of continuous droughts (DFZ), and continuously submerged zone (CSZ). Sediment cores in different zones were collected and P was analyzed. TP content in the surface sediment progressively increased from FFZ, DFZ, to CSZ except the 0–10-cm samples of D1, and TP content of sediment cores increased gradually with decreasing depth except D1 core. Ferric iron-bound P (Fe-P) and organic P (OP) exhibited uniform spatial variation with TP, while no clear patterns were found with regard to the other forms. Fe-P composed most of TP (54.67 ± 10.15%) and had a significant positive correlation with stable OP (5.55 ± 2.07%). The contributions of Fe-P, detrital apatite P (Det-P), and OP are stable among the four cores, indicating that the relationship between the various P forms is relatively stable despite variations in environmental conditions of WLFZ. The alternation of deposition and erosion under long-term water level fluctuation can promote P transport down-flow, which can be prevented by the continuous growth of plants in WLFZ. Thus, the reasonable use of the plant growth in WLFZ can control the P load of the reservoir.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

Ahlgren J, Reitzel K, De Brabandere H, Gogoll A, Rydin E (2011) Release of organic P forms from lake sediments. Water Res 45(2):565–572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2010.09.020
CAS Article Google Scholar
American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association (1999) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. American public health association, America
Google Scholar
Attygalla NW, Baldwin DS, Silvester E, Silvester E, Kappen P, Whitworth K (2016) The severity of sediment desiccation affects the adsorption characteristics and speciation of phosphorus. Environ Sci Proc Imp 18(1):64–71. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5em00523j
CAS Article Google Scholar
Baldwin DS (1996) Effects of exposure to air and subsequent drying on the phosphate sorption characteristics of sediments from a eutrophic reservoir. Limnol Oceanogr 41(8):1725–1732. https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1996.41.8.1725
Article Google Scholar
Baldwin DS, Mitchell AM (2000) The effects of drying and re–flooding on the sediment and soil nutrient dynamics of lowland river–floodplain systems: a synthesis. Regul Rivers Res Manag 16(5):457–467. https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-1646(200009/10)16:5<457::AID-RRR597>3.0.CO;2-B
Article Google Scholar
Biemelt D, Schapp A, Kleeberg A, Grunewald U (2005) Overland flow, erosion, and related phosphorus and iron fluxes at plot scale: a case study from a non-vegetated lignite mining dump in Lusatia. Geoderma 129(1-2):4–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2004.12.030
CAS Article Google Scholar
Bostic EM, White JR (2007) Soil phosphorus and vegetation influence on wetland phosphorus release after simulated drought. Soil Sci Soc Am J 71(1):238–244. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2006.0137
Article Google Scholar
Christophoridis C, Fytianos K (2006) Conditions affecting the release of phosphorus from surface lake sediments. J Environ Qual 35(4):1181–1192. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2005.0213
CAS Article Google Scholar
Copetti D, Tartari G, Valsecchi L, Salerno F, Viviano G, Mastroianni D (2019) Phosphorus content in a deep river sediment core as a tracer of long-term (1962–2011) anthropogenic impacts: a lesson from the Milan metropolitan area. Sci Total Environ 646:37–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.256
CAS Article Google Scholar
De Vicente I, Andersen FØ, Hansen HCB, Cruz-Pizarro L, Jensen HS (2010) Water level fluctuations may decrease phosphate adsorption capacity of the sediment in oligotrophic high mountain lakes. Hydrobiologia 651(1):253–264. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0304-x
CAS Article Google Scholar
Du L (2013) Carbon, Nitrogen and phosphorus release from the vegetation and flux of nitrogen, phosphorus of WLFZ in the Three Gorges Reservoir. M.Eng. thesis, Chongqing University (in Chinese)
Feng X, Wang YF, Chen L, Fu B, Bai G (2010) Modeling soil erosion and its response to land-use change in hilly catchments of the Chinese Loess Plateau. Geomorphology 118(3-4):239–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.01.004
Article Google Scholar
Hai C, Chen J (2010) Soil geography. Science Publishing Company, Beijing (in Chinese)
Google Scholar
Han C, Zheng B, Qin Y, MaY YC, Liu Z et al (2018) Impact of upstream river inputs and reservoir operation on phosphorus fractions in water-particulate phases in the Three Gorges Reservoir. Sci Total Environ 610:1546–1556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.109
CAS Article Google Scholar
Jensen HS, Andersen FØ (1992) Importance of temperature, nitrate, and pH for phosphate release from aerobic sediments of four shallow, eutrophic lakes. Limnol Oceanogr 37(3):577–589. https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1992.37.3.0577
Article Google Scholar
Ji F, Wang G, Han R, Li S, Li X (2016) Vertical distribution characteristics of phosphorus fractions in the sediments of a rural malodorous black River in Taihu Lake Area. Acta Sci Circumst 36(1):55–63 (in Chinese)
CAS Google Scholar
Lin R, Wu J (1992) Forms of inorganic phosphorus in the sediments near the Huanghe River Estuary. Oceanol Limnol Sin 23(4):387–395 (in Chinese)
CAS Google Scholar
McCulloch J, Gudimov A, Arhonditsis G, Chesnyuk A, Dittrich M (2013) Dynamics of P-binding forms in sediments of a mesotrophic hard-water lake: insights from non-steady state reactive-transport modeling, sensitivity and identifiability analysis. Chem Geol 354:216–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2013.06.011
CAS Article Google Scholar
Miller M (2012) The influence of reservoirs, climate, land use and hydrologic conditions on loads and chemical quality of dissolved organic carbon in the Colorado River. Water Resour Res 48(12):810–830. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012WR012312
CAS Article Google Scholar
Orihel D, Baulch H, Casson N, North R, Parsons C, Seckar D et al (2017) Internal phosphorus loading in Canadian fresh waters: a critical review and data analysis. Can J Fish Sci 74(12):2005–2029. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2016-0500
CAS Article Google Scholar
Peng C, Zhang L, Qin H, Li D (2014) Revegetation in the water level fluctuation zone of a reservoir: an ideal measure to reduce the input of nutrients and sediment. Ecol Eng 71:574–577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.07.078
Article Google Scholar
Qiu S, McComb A (1994) Effects of oxygen concentration on phosphorus release from reflooded air-dried wetland sediments. Aust J Mar Freshwat Res 45(7):1319–1328. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF9941319
CAS Article Google Scholar
Ruttenberg KC (1992) Development of a sequential extraction method for different forms of phosphorus in marine sediments. Limnol Oceanogr 37(7):1460–1482. https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1992.37.7.1460
CAS Article Google Scholar
Shu X, Zhang K, Zhang Q, Wang W (2017) Response of soil physico-chemical properties to restoration approaches and submergence in the water level fluctuation zone of the Danjiangkou Reservoir, China. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 145:119–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.07.023
CAS Article Google Scholar
Søndergaard M, Windolf J, Jeppesen E (1996) Phosphorus fractions and profiles in the sediment of shallow Danish lakes as related to phosphorus load, sediment composition and lake chemistry. Water Res 30(4):992–1002. https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(95)00251-0
Article Google Scholar
Søndergaard M, Jensen JP, Jeppesen E (2003) Role of sediment and internal loading of phosphorus in shallow lakes. Hydrobiologia 506-509(1-3):135–145. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HYDR.0000008611.12704.dd
Article Google Scholar
Tang X, Wu M, Li R (2018a) Distribution, sedimentation, and bioavailability of particulate phosphorus in the mainstream of the Three Gorges Reservoir. Water Res 140:44–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.04.024
CAS Article Google Scholar
Tang Q, Collins AL, Wen A, He X, Bao Y, Yan D et al (2018b) Particle size differentiation explains flow regulation controls on sediment sorting in the water-level fluctuation zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Sci Total Environ 633:1114–1125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.258
CAS Article Google Scholar
The State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) (1990) China’s soil element background values. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Google Scholar
Vink S, Chambers RM, Smith SV (1997) Distribution of phosphorus in sediments from Tomales Bay, California. Mar Geol 139(1-4):157–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-3227(96)00109-0
CAS Article Google Scholar
Wang X, Wang Y, Wang X, Wang Z, Wang Q, Hu Q et al (2003) The character of nutrient loss and land use in a small watershed of Miyun Reservoir. Res Environ Sci 16(1):30–33 (in Chinese)
CAS Google Scholar
Wang W, Ding J, Li Y (2005) Hydrology wavelet analysis. Chemical Industry Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Google Scholar
Wang C, Jin Q, Guo Z, Zhao L, Li X (2008) Vertical distributions of phosphorus fractions in sediments of three typical shallow urban lakes in PR China. Pol J Environ Stud 17(1):155–162
Google Scholar
Wang B, Zhang G, Shi Y, Zhang X (2014) Soil detachment by overland flow under different vegetation restoration models in the Loess Plateau of China. Catena 116:51–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2013.12.010
Article Google Scholar
Wang T, Xu S, Liu J (2017) Dynamic assessment of comprehensive water quality considering the release of sediment pollution. Water 9:275. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9040275
CAS Article Google Scholar
Wantzen KM, Rothhaupt KO, Mörtl M, Cantonati M, G.-Tóth L, Fischer P (eds) (2008) Ecological effects of water-level fluctuations in lakes. Springer, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-008-9466-1
Book Google Scholar
Watts CJ (2000) Seasonal phosphorus release from exposed, re-inundated littoral sediments of two Australian reservoirs. Hydrobiologia 431(1):27–39. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004098120517
CAS Article Google Scholar
Wu D, Hua Z (2014) The effect of vegetation on sediment resuspension and phosphorus release under hydrodynamic disturbance in shallow lakes. Ecol Eng 69:55–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.03.059
Article Google Scholar
Wu Y, Wang X, Zhou J, Bing H, Sun H, Wang J (2016) The fate of phosphorus in sediments after the full operation of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Environ Pollut 214:282–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.029
CAS Article Google Scholar
Xiao L, Zhu B, Kumwimba MN, Jiang S (2017) Plant soaking decomposition as well as nitrogen and phosphorus release in the water-level fluctuation zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir. Sci Total Environ 592:527–534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.104
CAS Article Google Scholar
Xie Z (2009) Discussion on the eutrophication control countermeasures in Biliuhe Reservoir. Jilin Water Res (1):38–40 (in Chinese)
Yan W, Zhang S, Tang Y (2000) Sediment enrichment mechanisms of phosphorus under simulated rainfall conditions. Acta Sci Circumst 20(3):332–337 (in Chinese)
CAS Google Scholar
Yang S, Cheng H, Bu Q, Zhang J, Shi X (2006) Estimation of soil erosion and its application in assessment of the absorbed nitrogen and phosphorus load in China. Acta Sci Circumst 26(3):366–374 (in Chinese)
CAS Google Scholar
Yao Q, Du J, Chen H, Yu Z (2016) Particle-size distribution and phosphorus forms as a function of hydrological forcing in the Yellow River. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23:3385–3398. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5567-3
CAS Article Google Scholar
Ye C, Cheng X, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Zhang Q (2012) Soil nitrogen dynamics following short-term revegetation in the water level fluctuation zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Ecol Eng 38:37–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.10.005
Article Google Scholar
Zhang Z, Hu H, Wan C, Peng J, Xu F, Shi F (2018) Lateral and longitudinal variation in phosphorus fractions in surface sediment and adjacent riparian soil in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Environ Sci Pollut R 25(31):31262–31271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3087-7
CAS Article Google Scholar
Zheng F, Huang C, Norton LD (2004) Surface water quality - effects of near-surface hydraulic gradients on nitrate and phosphorus losses in surface runoff. J Environ Qual 33(6):2174–2182. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2004.2174
CAS Article Google Scholar

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the team members from Water and Environmental Research Institute for their necessary assistance in collecting samples.

Funding

This study was financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC0400903) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51879031, 51327004).

Author information

Affiliations

Faculty of Infrastructure Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
Huijuan Yu, Shiguo Xu, Wen Tian, Lin Zhu & Ya Sun

Authors

Huijuan Yu
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Shiguo Xu
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Wen Tian
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Lin Zhu
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Ya Sun
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shiguo Xu.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOC 365 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yu, H., Xu, S., Tian, W. et al. Impact of long-term water level fluctuation on the distribution, transport, and fate of phosphorus in reservoir sediment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 33146–33156 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06415-0

Download citation

Received: 27 March 2019
Accepted: 03 September 2019
Published: 13 September 2019
Issue Date: November 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06415-0

Keywords

Reservoir
Water-deficient area
Water level fluctuation zone
Sediment partitioning
Sediment core
Phosphorus fractions