Dynamics of sediment phosphorus affected by mobile aeration: Pilot-scale simulation study in a hypereutrophic pond

Abstract

Controlling the release of phosphorus (P) in sediments is important to prevent eutrophication and harmful algal blooms in water bodies. Here we explored the effect of mobile aerators on the control of P release from sediments in a eutrophic pond. The dissolved oxygen in the water body recovered significantly after six months of aeration, becoming 4.2-5.8 times higher than in the control. The pH and Eh values at the sediment-water interface considerably increased, while the concentration of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in pore water significantly decreased, resulting in the alteration of SRP fluxes from 1.69 mg/m² d to -53.49 mg/m² d. Moreover, the inert P in sediments increased by 5.2% of the total P at the end of the study compared with the initial state, and the calcium-bound phosphorus (HCl-P) increased by 96.6%. However, although aeration reduced the concentration of SRP in the water column, the total P concentration was 2.45 times higher than that of the control, and the content of redox-sensitive P (BD-P) in the sediment also increased by 200%. Overall, although mobile aeration can maintain the microenvironment of the sediment interface and increase the inert P content in the sediment to reduce the P flux, it cannot reduce the risk of release of mobile P.

Keywords: Eutrophication; Mobile aeration; Phosphorus fluxes; Phosphorus fraction; Sediment–water interface.