Phosphorus and Iron Retention in Sediments Measured by Mass Budget Calculations and Directly

Authors:
  • PCPatricia M. Cross
    Patricia M. Cross
  • FRFrank H. Rigler
    Frank H. Rigler
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Abstract
Retention of phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) was estimated from mass budget calculations of Bob Lake, Ontario. Ratios of Fe to P in sediment cores were used to test the reliability of the concurrent retention estimated. However, a 300% range in Fe to P ratios measured in vertical profiles in sediments was many times larger than the uncertainty associated with mass budget measurements. Sediment cores showed a near-surface maximum of iron but not phosphorus. There was reasonably good agreement between P retention as computed by mass budget and by sediment accumulation methods, though the latter were slightly higher.