The oxygen isotopic composition of phosphate as an effective tracer for phosphate sources in Hongfeng Lake

In order to characterize the oxygen isotopic composition of internal phosphate and explore the possibility of using these data to identify phosphate sources, we measured oxygen isotopic compositions of phosphate(δ^(18)O_p) in sediment pore water in Hongfeng Lake, a typical deep-water lake in a mountainous area. These data, in combination with δ^(18)O_p in surface water samples and water column samples, were successfully used to identify phosphate sources. The δ^(18)O_p value of sediment pore water ranged from 15.2% to 15.8%, with an average value of 15.5%—the δ^(18)O_p value of internal phosphate. The δ^(18)O_p values decreased gradually through the water column from 19.4% in surface water to 16.4% in deeper water, implying that internal phosphate had more negative δ^(18)O_p values than external phosphate. This finding was substantiated by horizontal variations in δ^(18)O_p values, which decreased with increasing distance from inflowing rivers. All collected evidence suggests that external and internal phosphate have distinctly different isotopic signatures and that these signatures have not been considerably altered by biological mediation in Hongfeng Lake. Therefore, δ^(18)O_p can be used to distinguish phosphate sources. A two-endmember mixing model showed that internal phosphate had an average contribution of 40%, highlighting the influence of internal phosphorus loading on aqueous phosphate and eutrophication. This study illustrates the need to reduce the internal phosphorus load from sediment and provides guidance for nutrient management and in-lake restoration treatment in Hongfeng Lake. The data presented here are limited, but serve to highlight the great potential of δ^(18)O_p as an effective tracer for identifying phosphate sources. Systematic investigations of the oxygen isotopic compositions of external phosphate, internal phosphate, and phosphate through the water column, in combination with in-lake P biogeochemical cycle study, would be desirable in further research.

The main phosphorous sources in the Changjiang estuary

Analysis using historical data on the phosphate sources in Changjiang （Yangtze River） estuary show that phosphate was supplied equally from the east, south, west and north of the estuary. These sources include the Changjiang River, the Taiwan Warm Current （TWC）, a cyclone-type eddy, and the 32°N Upwelling, supplying different phosphates in different times, ways and intensities. The magnitude of their supplying phosphate concentration was related with the size in the order of the Changjiang River 〈 the TWC 〈 the 32°N Upwelling 〈 the cyclone-type eddy, and the duration of the supplying was： the Changjiang River 〉 the TWC 〉 the cyclone-type eddy 〉 the 32°N Upwelling. The four sources supplied a great deal of phosphate so that the phosphate concentration in the estuary was kept above 0.2 pmol/L in previous years, satisfying the phytoplankton growth. The horizontal and vertical distribution of the phosphate concentration showed that near shallow marine areas at 122°E/31°N, the TWC in low nutrient concentration became an upwelling through sea bottom and brought up nutrients from sea bottom to marine surface. In addition, horizontal distribution of phosphate concentration was consistent with that of algae： Rhizosolenia robusta, Rhizosolenia calcaravis and Skeletonema, which showed that no matter during high water or low water of Changjiang River, these species brought by the TWC became predominant species. Therefore, the authors believe that the TWC flowed from south to north along the coast and played a role in deflecting the Changjiang River flow from the southern side.

Phosphate Rock Fertilizer in Acid Soils: Comparing Phosphate Extraction Methods for Measuring Dissolution

Three phosphate extraction methods were used to investigate the dissolution, availability and transformation of Kunyang phosphate rock (KPR) in two surface acid soils. Dissolution was determined by measuring the increase in the amounts of soluble and adsorbed inorganic phosphate fractions, and did not differ significantly among the three methods. Significant correlations were obtained among P fractions got by the three extraction methods. Dissolution continued until the end of the 90 day incubation period. At the end of the period, much of the applied phosphate recovered in both soils were in the Al and Fe P or in the hydroxide and bicarbonate extractable inorganic P fractions. The dissolution of KPR in the two soils was also similar: increased addition of phosphate rock resulted in decreased dissolution. The similarity in the order and extent of dissolution in the two soils was probably due to the similarity in each soil of several factors that are known to influence phosphate rock dissolution, namely low CEC, pH, P level, and base status; and high clay and free iron and aluminum oxide contents. The results suggested that KPR could be an alternative P source in the long, if not the short, term in the soils, provided that those factors influencing P availability in the soils are not limiting.