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Influence of reservoir management on the source and transport of particulate organic carbon in surface waters of the lower Yellow River

  • Sediments, Sec 2 • Physical and Biogeochemical Processes • Research Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Large rivers play an important role in the global carbon cycle through the transportation of particulate organic carbon (POC) from the continent to the ocean. Human disturbance such as water–sediment regulation (WSR) significantly changes the downstream fluxes of sediment and POC. However, the sources and variations of POC affected by WSR in the lower Yellow River remain poorly understood.

Methods

The surface water samples were collected in the lower Yellow River, and the concentration and the median grain size (MGS) of suspended particulate matter (SPM) and the particulate organic carbon (POC) were measured. In addition, the C/N ratios and stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13Corg) of the POC in the surface waters of the lower Yellow River before and after the WSR of the Xiaolangdi reservoir were also analyzed to explore the spatio-temporal changes of POC transport.

Results

Both SPM and POC concentrations were significantly higher before WSR than after WSR and showed different deposit and scour features along the lower Yellow River, mainly due to the different water discharge and particulate contents. Correlation analysis shows that POC% and MGS were the main factors that influence the variation of POC before WSR, while SPM was the main factor after WSR. The C/N ratio in the surface water of the lower Yellow River before WSR was significantly higher than that after WSR, while δ13Corg showed the opposite trend. Application of a two-end-member mixing model of δ13Corg suggests that, on average, about 56.4% and 82.0% of the POC is derived from terrestrial soil and that approximately 43.6% and 18% of the POC is derived from C3 plant detritus before and after WSR, respectively.

Conclusion

Our research indicates that SPM and POC transport in the lower Yellow River was significantly affected by the WSR of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir. Therefore, the effect of WSR on the transport and environmental implication of POC should be considered in the management of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir in the future.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Sun W.L., Sun W.G., Zhu H., and Tan Y. for their help with sampling and chemical analyses.

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41103073, 41573120).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography and Tourism, Qufu Normal University, 80 Yantai Road, Donggang District, Rizhao, 276826, China

    Yingchun Lv, Yuxuan Ren & Xiaoyao Li

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  1. Yingchun Lv
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  2. Yuxuan Ren
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Correspondence to Yingchun Lv.

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Lv, Y., Ren, Y. & Li, X. Influence of reservoir management on the source and transport of particulate organic carbon in surface waters of the lower Yellow River. J Soils Sediments 22, 2548–2556 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-022-03268-y

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