Space evolution of phosphorus distribution in Oued Boumerzoug sediments

Abstract

 This work is an evaluation of fractionation and mobility of phosphorus in sediments taken along Oued Boumerzoug from El-Khroub until the junction of Oued Rhumel in Constantine city. Successive extractions were applied in order to evaluate the distribution of phosphorus in the fractions: exchangeable, bound to oxyhydroxides; bound to calcium and residual. The obtained results show that the most mobile fraction does not exceed 2% of the total phosphorus. The fractionbound tocalcium is the most important;the phosphorus contents in this fraction vary from 365 to 664 mg/kg. The contribution of the various fractions in the retention of phosphorus follows the order: exchangeable < residual <oxyhydroxides < related to calcium. Along the Oued, the fraction bound to calcium decreases; the other fractions are more stable.