Phosphorus fractionation in surface water and sediments of industrially polluted freshwater reservoir, India

Abstract

ABSTRACTIndustrial pollutions are responsible for alterations in biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus (P) in freshwater systems. The objectives of the present study were to quantify the major P forms and assess the relationship between P fractions in water and surface sediments of Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar (GBPS) reservoir, India. Surface water samples (n = 48) and surface sediment samples (n = 48) were collected from six regions of GBPS reservoir in December 2014. The results showed that total particulate phosphorus (TPP) and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) account for 45%–58% and 42%–55% of total phosphorus (TP) in the surface water. The authigenic-P was found to be more than 84% of the total P in surface sediments. The TPP showed a positive statistical relationship with sedimentary P fractions (authigenic-P, exch-P, and organic-P) indicated the impact of industrial pollution load on inorganic and organic P fractions in water and sediments of GBPS reservoir. The discriminant fraction analysis (DFA) revealed that the exch-P, Fe(III)-bound-P, detrital-P, organic-P, and TPP were sensitive indicators of P dynamics in the industrially polluted GBPS reservoir.