Development of a sequential extraction method for different forms of phosphorus in Bovilla lake sediments

Extractable forms of phosphorus are studied more widely than the extractable forms of most other elements. The main reason for this is because P is the key element in aquatic chemistry of lakes being a limiting nutrient in the growth of algae under many conditions. Exchange with bottom sediments place an important role in making P available for algae and contributes, therefore to eutrophication. Many extraction schemes have been developed to determine different forms of P in sediments. The objective of the present study was to estimate thebioavailability/mobility of phosphate from Bovilla lake sediments using a sequential extraction procedure and to evaluate their possible contributions to the P-loadings the lake. Results for three stations of Bovilla Lake are presented. A relatively high total phosphorus content of 452 mg/kg DW have been found in sediment samples taken from three sites of Bovilla Lake. This shows an important potential of sediments to release the P compounds, especially under anoxic conditions.