ABSTRACT
Spatial and temporal characteristics of release fluxes of sediment nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were investigated in the high-risk period of algal blooms in Lake Erhai. Moreover, the influence factors were examined. Results show that the release flux of N and P increased in recent years, exhibiting a clear increase in the period from 2009 to 2013, and a slight increase in the period since 2013. The release flux of dissolved total nitrogen (DTN) ranged between 11.71-14.15 mg·(m2·d)-1, within which the release flux of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were 6.39-8.42 mg·(m2·d)-1 and 5.31-5.73 mg·(m2·d)-1, accounting for 58% and 42% of the DTN, respectively. The release flux of dissolved total phosphorus (DTP) ranged between 0.11-0.14 mg·(m2·d)-1, within which the release flux of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) were 0.04-0.05 mg·(m2·d)-1 and 0.07-0.09 mg·(m2·d)-1, accounting for 34% and 66% of the DTP, respectively. The distribution of release flux of N showed a decreasing order:south > north > middle, while P was north > middle > south. The release flux of N increased by 17%, 13% and 23%, and the release flux of P increased by 19%, 28%, and 29% in north, middle, and south part of Lake Erhai from 2009 to 2018. Comparing the years 2009, 2013 and 2018, although the contents of N and P were stable, the release flux of N and P in the sediment was enhanced due to increasing pH and decreasing DO. Therefore, the increasing release of nitrogen and phosphorus from sediments, caused by changes in the water environment factors, should be paid attention to for the protection of Lake Erhai.