Spatial Distribution of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Nutrients in the Main Stream and Typical Tributaries of Tuojiang River and Fujiang River

Abstract

The Tuojiang River and Fujiang River, two important tributaries of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, have serious water pollution problems, among which nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the most important pollutants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the influencing factors of water quality in different spaces and provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of surface water pollution in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and its tributaries. Water samples of trunk and tributaries in the Tuojiang River and Fujiang River were collected, and the spatial distribution characteristics of water N and P were analyzed. The results showed that the Tuojiang River and Fujiang River showed serious pollution of total nitrogen (TN), with a water quality worse Ⅴ-section proportion as high as 94% and 50%, respectively. Both rivers showed that TN and TP concentrations in the tributaries were higher than those in the main stream. For both rivers, total phosphorus (TP), with moderate pollution, was mainly concentrated in Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ class water quality, whereas the P pollution was more serious for the Fujiang River compared to that of the Fujiang River. For the Tuojiang River, nitrate nitrogen (NN) concentration from upstream to downstream showed a trend of decreasing after the first increase, with the maximum concentration of ammonium nitrogen (AN) exhibiting at the upstream site. In particular, TP concentration increased significantly after rivers flowed through a city. For the Fujiang River trunk stream, TN and NN concentration exhibited a gradually increasing trend from the middle to lower reaches. Generally, our study revealed that TN, TP, and NN in the rivers were affected by water pH and water temperature (T). Therefore, the control of N and P pollution in rivers should pay attention to the influence of water environmental factors.