Phosphate Release and Sorption by Lake Mohegan Sediments

The release rate of phosphorus from lake sediments to the overlying water was measured in a laboratory experiment. The sediments were from Lake Mohegan, a eutrophic lake in northern Westchester County, New York. The sorption capacity for phosphorus of Lake Mohegan sediments depends on the oxygen concentration in the overlying water. When the phosphate concentration in the overlying water is high, above l-2 mg/l, the sediments will sorb phosphorus from the overlying water under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Below this phosphate value, the sediments will release phosphorus under anaerobic conditions while they will sorb phosphorus under aerobic conditions.