ISSN:
1573-515X
Keywords:
acidity
;
alkalinity
;
lake acidification
;
lake fertilization
;
eutrophication
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Geosciences
Notes:
Abstract Fertilization of a small lake with ammonium chloride for four years as part of a eutrophication experiment caused it to acidify to pH values as low as 4.6. Implications for acidification of lakes via precipitation polluted with ammonium compounds are discussed. When phosphate was supplied with the ammonium, biological nitrogen uptake, apparently by phytoplankton, was the main mechanism causing acidification. When ammonium was applied without phosphate, it accumulated to high concentrations in solution, after which nitrification caused rapid acidification. In both cases, the whole-lake efficiency of acidification was low, averaging about 13% of the potential acidification of supplied ammonium chloride (Table 2). Subsequent application of phosphate plus sodium nitrate for two years caused the pH of the lake to increase. The efficiency of alkalinization was higher than for acidification, averaging 69% of the potential alkalinization of the supplied sodium nitrate.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02185037
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