Quantity and quality of organic carbon in bottom sediments of two upland dam reservoirs in Poland

Abstract

The quantity and quality of organic carbon were studied in bottom sediments of two small, shallow, polymictic dam reservoirs located in SE Poland: Zalew Zemborzycki (ZZ) and Brody Iłżeckie (BI). Total content of organic carbon (Corg), and its fractions have been determined. The maps of Corg spatial distribution have been compiled. Wide ranges of sedimentary Corg were noted as well as differences between two reservoirs in respect of its content and spatial distribution. The Corg content in the sediments showed a longitudinal zonation pattern in the ZZ and a transverse one in the BI. The composition of sedimentary Corg showed the highest percentage of the insoluble fraction followed by humus acid fraction and the lowest - hemicelluloscs fraction. In the humus acid fraction, fulvic acids overbalanced humic acids.