THE TYPES OF PHOSPHORUS IN SEDIMENT RESERVOIRS IN BASINS WITH DIFFERENT CONDITIONS OF USE AND OCCUPATION OF SOIL
Semiarid. Eutrophication. Fractionation. Internal phosphorus loading.
Phosphorus (P) is considered the limiting nutrient for primary production, therefore, the control of this element is a key factor for solving the problem of eutrophication. Its input to the water bodies occurs mainly through external sources that may be punctual or diffuse, what evidences the importance of properly planning the use and occupation of the soil of the catchments. In addition, P can accumulate in the benthic compartment (sediment) and, depending on its mobility and environmental conditions, return to the water column and become available for primary producers, a phenomenon known as internal loading. The chemical fractionation then is an option to quantify the P fractions present in the sediment and its potential mobility. It is an important information to determine the ideal dosage of the chemical compounds used in physical-chemical restoration projects of these environments. The present work aims to quantify the different P fractions in the sediment of 16 reservoirs located in the Piancó-Piranhas-Açu catchment in the Brazilian semi-arid region and to study their relationship with the different uses and occupation of the soils that surround the reservoirs. The following hypothesis will be investigated: (i) the most eutrophic reservoirs are those with the highest amount of phosphorus in the sediment; (ii) and different land uses and occupations result in different types and / or amounts of P in the sediment.