Effects of Hydrilla Verticillata on Phosphorus Retention and Release in Sediments

Submerged macrophytes are commonly used for the environmental engineering of the controlling of shallow lake eutrophication, and are also an effective and valid alternative for the remediation of eutrophic water bodies, not only under experimental conditions but also under natural conditions. Therefore, the effects of submerged macrophytes on the improvement of shallow lake water quality have been intensively investigated. But the mechanism was not well understood, especially the mechanism of the effects of submerged macrophytes on the exchange of nutrients at sediment–water interface in shallow lakes. This study selected a familiar submerged macrophyte Hydrilla verticillata in China and evaluated the effects of H. verticillata on the phosphate retention and release at the lake sediment–water interface in a simulated condition. The effects of H. verticillata on the phosphate sorption isotherm, phosphorus (P) availability were investigated and the subsequent kinetics of P release was also measured by repeated extraction with CaCl2 solution. Exchangeable Ca and ammonium oxalate-extractable Fe (Feox) and Al (Alox) of the sediments were also determined. The results show that the contents of organic matter, cationic exchange capacity (CEC), Ca, Fe, Al, exchangeable Ca, Feox and Alox of the sediments with H. verticillata were higher than those of the control sediments, and the contents of total phosphorus (TP), Olsen-P and reactive dissolve phosphorus (RDP) were lower. The sediments with H. verticillata had stronger P sorption ability and weaker ability of P release. H. verticillata did not significantly affect the trends of the sorption isotherms and kinetics of the released P on the sediments. H. verticillata can significantly increase the ability of P sorption, decrease in the ability of P desorption on sediments was one of the mechanism that maintained lower P levels of the overlying water through affecting the contents of organic matter, CEC, Ca, Fe, Al, exchangeable Ca, Feox and Alox in sediments.