Dredging method effects on sediment resuspension and nutrient release across the sediment-water interface in Lake Taihu, China.

Environmental sediment dredging is one of the most common methods for the remediation of contaminated sediments in lakes; however, debate continues as to whether the effectiveness of dredging methods contributes to this phenomenon. To determine sediment resuspension and nutrient release following dredging with a variety of dredging methods, four dredging treatments at wind speeds of 0-5.2 m/s were simulated in this study, namely suction dredging (SD), grab dredging (GD), ideal dredging with no residual sediments (ID), and non-dredging (ND). Field sediments from suction and grab dredging areas (including post-dredged and non-dredged sediments) of Lake Taihu were used to assess the release abilities of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) from the sediment-water interface. The effects of residual sediments on nutrient concentrations in water were also evaluated. The results reveal that inhibition of resuspension of particulate matter and nutrients released through sediment dredging decreases with increasing levels of residual sediment. Total suspended particulate matter content in the mean water columns of ID, SD, and GD under wind-induced disturbance (1.7-5.2 m/s) decreased by 67.5%, 56.8%, and 44.3%, respectively; total nitrogen and total phosphorus in ID (SD) treatments were 19.8% (12.9%) and 24.5% (11.2%) lower than that in ND treatment. However, there were ~ 1.6 and 1.5 times higher SRP and NH4+-N in the GD treatment compared with the ND treatment at the end of the resuspension experiment (0 m/s). A significant increase in the SRP and NH4+-N release rates at the sediment-water interface was also observed in field sediments from a grab dredging area, indicating that GD may pose a short-term risk of nutrient release to the water body. Hence, dredging methods with less residual sediments both during and after dredging improves the dredging quality.

[Simulation research on the release of internal nutrients affected by different dredging methods in lake].

A simulated experiment was carried out to study release features of internal source under different sediment dredging methods and the difference between two lake areas in Lake Taihu was also studied. The contaminated sediments were sampled from two sites in Meiliang Bay which were the Inner Bay (A) and the Outer Bay(B). Release rates of phosphorus after ideal dredging and suction dredging are about 20% and 72% of the control and the phosphorus release rate in Inner Bay(A) is about 80% of Outer Bay(B). Release rates of ammonia after ideal dredging and suction dredging are about 40% and 83% of the scallop dredging, but dredging process may even promote the release of ammonia in a short time, the ammonia release rate in Inner Bay(A) is about 150% higher than that in Outer Bay(B). Under the microcosm experiment condition, the ideal dredging method and the suction dredging method may have a better control of internal source in contrast with the scallop dredging. Altogether, sediment dredging may be a useful approach to decrease the release of internal source in the selected sites when the external nutrients are effectively controlled. Consider all kinds of dredging projects, the suction dredging should be the ideal option for sediment dredging in Lake Taihu.

[Influence of dredging on sediment resuspension and phosphorus transfer in lake: a simulation study].

A simulated experiment was conducted to investigate the impacts of sediment dredging on sediment resuspension and phosphorus transfer in the summer and winter seasons under the common wind-wave disturbance, and the contaminated sediment used in this study was from Meiliang Bay, Taihu lake. The result showed that 20 cm dredging could effectively inhibit the sediment resuspension in study area, dredging in winter has a better effect than that in summer, and the higher values of the total suspended solid (TSS) in undredged and dredged water column during the process of wind wave disturbance were 7.0 and 2.2, 24.3 and 6.4 times higher than the initial value in summer and winter simulation respectively. The paired-samples t-test result demonstrated that total phosphorus (TP) and phosphate (PO4(3-)-P) loading positively correlated to TSS content in dredged (P<0.01) and undredged water column (P<0.05), which proved that internal phosphorus fulminating release induced by wind-wave disturbance would significantly increase the TP and PO4(3-)-P loading in the water column. The effect of dredging conducted in summer on the TP and PO4(3)-P loading in the water column was negative, but not for winter dredging (P<0.01). The pore water dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) profile at water-sediment interface in summer simulation was also investigated by diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique. Diffusion layer of the DRP profile in undredged sediment was wider than that in dredged sediment. However, the DRP diffusion potential in dredged sediment was greater than that in undredged sediment, showing that dredging can effectively reduce the risk of the DRP potential release in dredged pore water, but also would induce the DRP fulminating release in the short time under hydrodynamic action. Generally, dredging was usually deployed during the summer and the autumn. Considering Taihu Lake is a large, shallow, eutrophic lake and the contaminant distribution is spatially heterogeneous, it is vital to determine the optimal time, depth and scope of dredging.

[Purification effects of large-area planting water hyacinth on water environment of Zhushan Bay, Lake Taihu].

Using water hyacinth and other fast-growing and high biomass of floating plants to purify polluted water has become an efficient and effective ecological restoration method at present. Effects of nutrients adsorption and water purification of planting water hyacinth on water quality in Zhushan Bay were studied. The results indicated that no anoxia was observed in water hyacinth planting areas because of wave disturbance and strong water exchange. Concentrations of TN and TP in water hyacinth planting areas were higher than that in the outside of stocking area (the content ranged 3.03-7.45 mg/L and 0.15-0.38 mg/L, respectively), and the content changes ranged 3.37-8.02 mg/L and 0.15-0.36 mg/L,respectively. The higher concentration of TN and TP in water indicated the water body was heavily polluted. Water hyacinth roots have a strong ability to adsorb suspended solids and algae cells, the concentration of Chl-a in stocking areas was higher than that in stocking fringe and outside, the maximum Chlorophyll in the stocking region in August was 177.01 mg/m3, and at the same time the concentrations in planting fringe and outside were 101.53 mg/m3 and 76.96 mg/m, respectively. Higher Chl-a content on water hyacinth roots indicated that water hyacinth had strong blocking effects on algae cells, and demonstrated it had a great purification effects on eutrophicated water, and it also provides a basis for the larger polluted water bodies purification in using water hyacinth.

[Impacts of Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) on lake sediment properties and phosphorus movement].

To examine the impact of Corbicula fluminea on sediment properties and phosphorus dynamics across sediment-water interface in lake, the microcosm experiment was carried out with sediment and lake water from the estuary of Dapu River, a eutrophic area in Taihu Lake. Rhizon samplers were used to acquire pore water, and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) flux across sediment-water interface and sediment properties were determined. The activity of C. fluminea destroyed the initial sediment structure, mixed sediment in different depths, increased oxygen penetration depth, sediment water content, and total microbial activity in sediment. The downward movement of overlying water was enhanced by the activity of C. fluminea, which decreased Fe2+ in pore water by oxidation. The production of ferric iron oxyhydroxide adsorbed SRP from pore water and decreased SRP concentration in pore water, and this increased iron bound phosphorus in corresponding sediment. The emergence of C. fluminea accelerated SRP release from sediment to overlying water, and enhanced SRP flux increased with the rise of introduced C. fluminea density. Metabolization of C. fluminea might play an important role in accelerating SRP release.

[Mechanism of phosphorus adsorption and immobility by sediments in innercity heavily polluted canal].

The mechanisms of phosphorus (P) adsorption and immobility were investigated in laboratory experiments. The sediments and waters used were taken from an inner-city heavily polluted canal. Addition of KH2PO4 into the operated experimental units, with and without (i.e., static) intermittent sediment resuspension, were made similar to the external P input and carried out periodically. The results show that the amount of the accumulative P adsorption onto the sediments was up to 363.4 mg x kg(-1) under the conditions of sediment disturbance over a 39-day period, and it was evidently higher than that (213.2 mg x kg(-1)) under static conditions. Sequential fractionation indicated that most of the incorporated P was accounted for in the Fe/Al-P. There were over 61% in the case of intermittent sediment disturbance and up to 83% in the case of static conditions. Based on the bioavailability of Fe/Al-P, 40.6% of the incorporated P was accounted for in non-occluded Fe/Al-P of the sediments under intermittent sediment disturbance conditions. This value increased to 59.5% under static conditions. In addition, more than 23% of the incorporated P was accounted for in HCl-P of the sediments under intermittent sediment disturbance conditions, on the other hand, the concentration of HCl-P kept relatively constant under static conditions. After 39 d of P adsorption by the both sediments, the values of the maximum sorption capacity (S(max)) decreased,while zero equilibrium P concentration (EPC0) and P saturation P(%) increased. However, the extent of EPC0 and P% under intermittent sediment disturbance conditions was obviously lower than that under static conditions. It was hopefully suggested that intermittent sediment disturbance can not only accelerate the P adsorption but also enhance the P retention by sediments.

[Influence of intermittent sediment disturbance-sedimentation process on the bioavailable phosphorus in standing water].

The course of intermittent sediment disturbance-sedimentation, that sediment disturbance was for 10 min and succeeding sedimentation was for 1430 min each day over a 17-day period, was simulated to investigate the variation of bioavailable phosphorus (BAP) in overlying water. The results showed that the concentrations of BAP increased obviously at Oh after each disturbance, and the maximum concentration of BAP was reached up to 2.82 mg x L(-1) after 1 d (the first disturbance). However, the BAP gradually decreased with the sedimentation time increase (1 h, 6 h, 24 h). Moreover, at 0, 1, 6, 24 h after disturbance, the BAP gradually declined with the number of sediment disturbance increase, but the BAP at Oh after each disturbance was higher than that at 1 h, 6 h, 24 h. This may be attributed to the immediate release of bioavailable particulate phosphorus ( BAPP), as a result of sediment disturbance. The average BAPP/BAP was up to 95.0% at Oh after disturbance over a 17-day period, but this value gradually decreased with the sedimentation time increase (1 h, 6 h, 24 h). At 0 h, 1 h, 6 h, 24 h after each disturbance, the equilibrium concentrations of total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) were reached after 5 d (0.053, 0.062, 0.051, 0.045 mg x L(-1)), and the percentage of TDP in BAP also decreased gradually. Therefore, it is considered that sediment intermittent disturbance can accelerate the transformation from TDP to PP and hinder the development process of eutrophication in standing water. Sequential fractionation also indicates that the percentage of refractory phosphorus in Tot-P increased from 72.8% (raw sediments) to 77.3% (sediments after disturbance), attributable to the increase of concentrations of occluded Fe/Al-P. It is hopefully suggested an acceleration of transformation of phosphorus from mobile fractions to refractory fractions.

[Characteristics of sediments and pore water in Lake Nansi wetland].

In order to investigate the influence of sediment physical and chemical characteristics on the vertical distribution of NH4+, PO4(3-) and NO3(-) and their diffusive fluxes at sediment-water surface, pore water equilibrators (Peeper) were employed to obtain multiple pore water profiles from reed and bulrush sediments in Lake Nansihu wetland. The results showed that sediment properties in the planted reed and bulrush fields, i.e. water content, porosity, KCl-extractable NH4+ and NO3(-) were generally greater than those in seldom vegetation, and the porosity in 2-5 cm depth subsurface sediments increased by 57.5%, 34.6%, respectively. Nutrient profiles of NH4+ and PO4(3-) at sediment-water interface exhibited a nearly exponential increase with increasing depth including a concentration maximum at a 8 cm depth, where there was a spike in the NH4+ and PO4(3-) concentration. The diffusive flux (Jx) across the sediment-water interface could be calculated from Fick's first law. The flux calculations showed reed could effectively decreased NH4+ diffusive flux, and the NH4+ diffusive flux, the maximum flux 3.57-4.48 mg/(m2 x d) in reed field, was nearly three times greater than the minimum flux 0.90-1.24 mg/(m2 x d) in seldom vegetation. However, there was a narrow PO4(3-) flux range from 0.02 to 0.04 mg/(m2 x d) in three fields while NO3(-) concentration gradient showed an opposite pattern and diffusive flux occurred in one direction from the overlying bottom water to the sediment pore water. The correlative results suggested that extractable nutrient contents in sediments correlated with pore water content, therefore, controlling extractable nutrient contents appeared to a viable measure to avoid nutrient recontamination to overlying water in wetlands.

[Environment effects of algae-caused black spots: driving effects on the N, P changes in the water-sediment interface].

The impact and driving effect of deposited algal cells in the water-sediment interface on the N, P changes were studied through continuous extracted pore water with home-made static experiment. Results showed that dissolved oxygen in water-sediment interface was depleted in 50 min after algal cells settled. Soon the dead algal cells formed the anoxia and strong reducing environment and the dead cells had a severe anaerobic mineralization in the water-sediment interface, also the water bodies had a intense black and stink phenomenon. PO4(-3) -P, NH4(+) -N concentration in water-sediment interface increased from the 2nd day after added the algal cells to the sediment interface, and its concentration was 4.00 mg/L and 39.45 mg/L, respectively. Its concentration was the 10 fold and 241 fold higher than that the control experiments at the same time (PO4(-3) -P, NH4(+) -N concentration in control experiments was 0.42 mg/L and 0.16 mg/L, respectively). Anaerobic mineralization of dead cells in sediment surface drove the nutrients diffusing upward the overlying water, added the nutrients concentration in water bodies, and it also supplied the nutrient materials for the algal blooms happened again.

[Estimation of releasing fluxes of sediment nitrogen and phosphorus in Fubao Bay in Dianchi Lake].

NH4(+)-N and PO4(3-)-P release from the sediment of Fubao Bay in Dianchi Lake were simulated using static incubations of intact sediment cores. The results showed that the releasing rates of sediment NH4(+)-N and PO4(3-)-P were 22.941-163.117 mg x (m2 x d)(-1) and 0.90-2.06 mg x (m2 x d)(-1), respectively, with large variation in different sampling areas. The lower releasing rates were associated with declined concentration gradients between sediment pore water and overlying water,which might be related to the high input of sewages in the bay. Using peeper (in situ dialysis membrane samplers) method, concentration gradients of NH4(+)-N and PO4(3-)-P were obtained at the interstitial water-overlying water profiles. Based on calculations using the Fick's First Law,the releasing rates of sediment NH4(+)-N and PO4(3-)-P were estimated at 2.85-81.96 mg x (m2 x d)(-1) and 0.118-0.265 mg x (m2 x d)(-1), respectively. Comparison of the two methods using to estimate the fluxes of sediment NH4(+)-N and PO4(3-)-P, the NH4(+)-N and PO4(3-)-P flux from the calculation using Fick's First Law was lower than that using static incubations. For the whole bay,the area-weighted releasing fluxes of NH4(+)-N and PO4(3-)-P from static incubations were estimated to be (49.9 +/- 8.8) t x a(-1) and (0.79 +/- 0.53) t x a(-1), respectively.

Effects of hydrodynamics processes on phosphorus fluxes from sediment in large, shallow Taihu Lake.

The turnover of phosphorus (P) in lake sediments, a major cause of eutrophication and subsequent deterioration of water quality, is in need of deep understanding. In this study, effects of resuspension on P release were studied in cylindrical microcosms with Y-shape apparatus. The results indicated that there was a positive correlation between flux of suspended substance across sediment-water interface (F(SS)) and the wind speed, and an increasing F(SS) during each wind process followed by a steady state. The maximal F(SS) under light, moderate, and strong wind conditions were 299.9 +/- 41.1, 573.4 +/- 61.7, and 2093.8 +/- 215.7 g/m2, respectively. However, flux of P across sediment-water interface (F(P)) did not follow a similar pattern as F(SS) responding to wind intensity, which increased and reached the maximum in initial 120 min for light wind, then decreased gradually, with maximal flux of 9.4 +/- 1.9 mg/m2. A rapid increase of F(P) at the first 30 min was observed under moderate wind, with maximal flux of 11.2 +/- 0.6 mg/m2. Surprisingly, strong wind caused less F(P) than under light and moderate wind conditions with maximal flux of 3.5 +/- 0.9 mg/m2. F(SS) in water column declined obviously during the sedimentation process after winds, but F(P) varied with wind regime. No obvious difference was detected on F(P) after 8 h sedimentation process, compared with the initial value, which means little redundant P left in the water column after winds.

[Space-time dependent variances of ammonia and phosphorus flux on sediment-water interface in Lake Taihu].

Monthly research of ammonia and phosphorus fluxes in water-sediment interface in East Lake Taihu (ELT, macrophyte dominated) and Meiliang Bay (MB, algae dominated) was processed with intact sediment cores' incubation and pore water diffusive model. The ammonia and phosphorus fluxes calculated with intact sediment cores' incubation (F(i)) showed discrepancy in different lake zones with different ecotype. The yearly average fluxes of ammonia and dissolved phosphorus in ELT were (44.9 +/- 21.9) mg x (m2 x d)(-1) (Mean +/- SD) and (2.06 +/- 1.71) mg x (m2 x d)(-1); and (16.2 +/- 12.0) mg x (m2 x d)(-1) and (0.53 +/- 0.52) mg x (m2 x d)(-1) in MB. The molecular diffusive fluxes (F(m)) of the two lake zones showed the same pattern, but the absolute value difference may as high as an order of magnitudes. So this molecular diffusive model cannot be used to evaluate the nutrients fluxes in sediment-water interface in Lake Taihu, a lake vulnerable with wind and wave affection and benthic bio-disturbation. Compared with the two lake zones with different ecotypes, macrophyte dominated one had higher nutrients fluxes than the algae one. ELT had higher bio-disturbation, which was revealed by the F(i)/F(m) ratio. When the dissolved oxygen (DO) remained in high concentration, known as aerobic condition, the nutrients' fluxes were not correlated with the DO. Similarly, the fluxes were not correlated with the nutrients' concentration of the overlying water at the existing condition. The discrepancy between higher nutrients' fluxes and lower nutrients loading in ELT suggested the higher particulate settlement rate and assimilate rate promoted by the macrophyte. This is the important theoretical basis of rebuilding the healthy ecosystems with restoring the water plants.