High pH levels in lake sediments increase phosphorus release dramatically.
The study looked at how different factors affect the release of phosphorus from the sediments of East Lake in Wuhan. They found that higher water temperature increased phosphorus release, while pH levels of 7.4 led to the lowest release. Phosphorus release was much higher in anaerobic conditions compared to aerobic. The type of phosphorus in the sediments, like dissolved and Fe binding phosphorus, influenced the amount released.