Speciation of phosphorus in the sediments of Lake Bini (Ngaoundere-Cameroon)

Abstract

In this study, spatial and seasonal variations of phosphorus fractions in Lake Bini sediments were evaluated using a sequential extraction method. The sampling of water and sediments (surface and coring) was carried out at seven sites around the lake during the dry season and the rainy season. The results showed that phosphorus is mainly in the inorganic form (L-P+Ca–P+Fe-P) in the sediments whatever the season may be. The rank order of phosphorus extracts obtained was Fe-P>Ca–P>OM-P>L–P>Res-P. The maximum values of phosphorus (sum of each fraction) were obtained in the rainy season at the sites D6 (298.12±12.37 μg P/g) and D4 (244.93±11.06 μg P/g) located beside water source 2 and farmland 2, respectively. The average values of the phosphorus content vary from 05.29±1.05 μg P/g to 102.58±4.62 μg P/g for the upper layer (0–5 cm depth); 04.67±0.66 μg P/g to 70.06±2.82 μg P/g for the medium layer (5–10 cm depth) and finally 04.63±0.98 μg P/g to 55.24±5.17 μg P/g for the deep layer (10–15 cm depth). The results of principal component analysis showed that processes which enhance Ca–P and Fe–P accumulation are probably related to the same factor and the origin of P depends on the source of pollution. The nature of the season plays a significant role in the geochemical composition of the sediments in phosphorus and on the eutrophication level of Lake Bini.

Keywords:

• Lake Bini
• speciation of phosphorus
• eutrophication
• PCA
• pollution