Sedimentation rate and accumulation of nutrients in the Upper Paraná river floodplain

Abstract

The objective was to rebuild the history of sedimentation and accumulation of nutrients rate in the Upper Paraná River floodplain. Two corers were collected and sliced at intervals of 2 cm. In the sub-samples geochronological analysis was performed by means of the isotope 210Pb, and also the quantification of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Garças Pond presented sedimentation rate of 7.7 mm yr(−1) and Patos Pond 6.8 mm yr(−1). The flood pulse is the main regulating factor of the sedimentation rate on the Upper Paraná River floodplain. The total organic carbon derives from allochthonous origin and the limiting productivity nutrient in the system is nitrogen.