The Paraíba do Sul river lower reach was monitored monthly between August 1995 and July 1996. This study was aimed at evaluating the temporal dynamics of dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus and its main controlling factors. Minimum and maximum observed values were as follows: N-NO2- - 0.08/0.51; N-NO3- - 21/57; N-NH4+ - 1.4/6.7; DON - 4.9/86.0; DIN -24.5/60.9; P-PO4(3-) - 0.43/1.66; DOP - 0.05/0.92; pH - 6.2/7.8; Dissolved Oxygen - 6.4/10.1; Conductivity - 48/74; Temperature - 20.5/31.1 (Nutrients - µM; Dissolved Oxygen - mg/l; Conductivity - µS/cm; Temperature - °C). Discharge presented a characteristic seasonal variation, showing a peak in January. Increasing P-PO4(3-), DOP, N-NH4+ and N-NO2- concentrations with increasing discharges could be associated to the partial flooding of inumerous fluvial islands and floodplains and to the agricultural practices of sugar cane crops that during the wet season could transfer nitrogen and phosphorus compounds to the fluvial channel.
Dissolved nutrients; Paraíba do Sul River; Temporal dynamics; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Discharge
