Keywords: 
• the Wuliangsuhai Lake /
• eutrophication /
• sediments /
• phosphorus

Abstract: Based on analysis of total phosphorus, horizontal and vertical characteristics of sediments in Wuliangsuhai Lake are discussed. The results indicate that the content of total phosphorus in surface sediments ranges from 0.37 to 0.99 g·kg^-1, with mean content of 0.75 g·kg^-1. The horizontal distribution of TP had decreasing trend from bank to center and the content of TP in surface sediment of most the lake districts had certain ecological toxic effects. The vertical distribution of TP in the sediment core is various, which indicate that effluents from human activity influence TP contents. The sequence of TP contents is silt, clay＞very fine sand ＞fine sand＞medium sand, TP enriched in the sediments with grains smaller than 63 micron in diameter. The adsorption contribution rates of TP are under the control of adsorbability and mass percenage. Sediment internal load would be a dominant factor controlling water quality when external load was reduced or cut off in Wuliangsuhai Lake.