Effectiveness of dredging on internal phosphorus loading in a typical aquacultural lake

Intensive aquaculture significantly affects the global phosphorus (P) cycle and enhances eutrophication in inland waters. Sediment dredging efficiently removes P-rich sediments from shallow-water eutrophic lakes. However, studies on the effects of sediment dredging on the internal P loading of aquacultural lakes are still lacking. Moreover, the migration and transformation processes of labile P and the mechanisms of sediment P release are unclear. To evaluate dredging effectiveness, we employed two in situ high-resolution sampling techniques to simultaneously measure sediment labile P and porewater soluble reactive P (SRP) and Fe (II) at the millimeter scale. Dredging effectively reduced surface sediment CaP contents and organic matter (OM) below the sediment-water interface (SWI). Moreover, dredging decreased the SRP diffusion flux across the SWI in summer. After dredging, FeP (P bound to Fe, Al, and Mn oxides and hydroxides) and OP (organic P) contents increased by 136% and 48% in the newly formed deposited layer (140 mm thick), respectively. The increased bioavailable P content significantly enhanced the capability of sediment solids to resupply labile P to porewater SRP. The stronger positive correlation between porewater soluble Fe (II) and SRP suggests that Fe redox cycling regulated internal P release. Our results suggest that dredging effectiveness will weaken over time due to the re-deposition of active P, which in turn increases the risk of sediment P release. To curb the release of sediment P, we recommend the implementation of additional in situ restoration techniques that improve the oxide layer of surface sediments and reduce sediment suspension.