Abstract:Phosphorus, Cu and Zn concentrations in surface water are controlled by a complex reaction of soluble P, Cu,Zn with sediments. This study investigated P,Cu,Zn concentrations in solution when various sediments were mixed. In the system where two or three sediments were mixed, the measured soluble P, Cu, or Zn concentration were always lower than the predicted values caclulated based on the compositions of sediments, indicating the soluble P, Cu or Zn released by one sediment could be resorbed by another sediment. This resorption may result in lower than expected solution P, Cu,Zn concentrations in some surface water. Soluble P, Cu, and Zn concentrations in water where the sediments came from multi-sources were controlled mainly by the sediment that had strongest adsorption capacity to P, Cu,Zn, or strongest potential to release P, Cu,Zn.