Model parameterization for aerobic decomposition of plant resources drowned during man-made lakes formation

The formation of man-made reservoirs generates several impacts on water quality. In order to minimize some of these impacts mathematical models are currently used. This paper aims to discuss the issue associated with the degradation of plant resources (leaves, branches, barks and litter) that remain within the watershed of the new man-made lakes and parameterize a kinetic model related to decay of plant detritus. In these environments, the short-term variation of limnological parameters is mainly connected with biomass decay drowned during the filling operation. The kinetics of the degradation processes in reservoirs are discussed on the basis of information with related to detritus sources and the chemical properties of different types of compounds (i.e. labile and refractory fractions). Overall, the parameterization of the (first order) kinetic model showed that refractory fractions (ca. 86%) are predominant and the mineralization is a slow process, constituting the main route for decomposition and being affected by changes of environmental variables. The mineralization of labile and hydrosoluble compounds (ca. 14%) is responsible for the short-term water quality variation owing to decomposition; basically, the intensities of these changes depend on the labile/soluble compounds content of detritus and its chemical composition.