Phosphorus Distribution in Sediments of the Delaware River Estuary

Abstract

To determine the primary factors related to the accumulation of P in estuarine sediments, a study of P fractions in sediments of the Delaware River Estuary was undertaken. A correlation matrix between the P fractions, determined by serial extraction, and 14 sediment variables was computed. Total P and total inorganic P in the sediment P reservoir decreases with increasing salinity. This variation is correlated with decreasing iron oxyhydroxide content in the sediment. Neither clay content nor calcium carbonate content appear to be correlated significantly with variation in total inorganic P content in the fine-grained sediments of this estuary. Although calcium phosphate is a major constituent of the sediment-P reservoir, there was no evidence found that it is authigenic in this environment.