Table 2 Sediment physicochemical variables of Jinshui River and Qi River

High flow season

Jinshui River

Downstream

6.04 ± 2.12^a

5.74 ± 1.95

7.42 ± 1.87^b

1.30 ± 0.39

Midstream

5.97 ± 4.47^b

4.83 ± 0.98

3.14 ± 0.48^c

2.09 ± 1.66

Upstream

6.70 ± 2.34^a

5.99 ± 1.39

10.06 ± 0.80^a

1.80 ± 0.49

Qi River

Downstream

6.79 ± 0.42^ab

6.17 ± 1.24^b

5.55 ± 2.39

1.35 ± 0.39

Midstream

7.98 ± 0.74^a

8.61 ± 1.05^a

7.93 ± 6.14

0.65 ± 0.68

Upstream

5.33 ± 1.74^b

5.52 ± 0.55^b

4.38 ± 0.72

1.03 ± 0.49

Normal flow season

Jinshui River

Downstream

1.34 ± 0.09

0.80 ± 0.47

3.47 ± 2.05

2.62 ± 1.61

Midstream

0.82 ± 0.25

0.89 ± 0.55

5.74 ± 4.53

4.85 ± 4.71

Upstream

1.22 ± 0.07

0.60 ± 0.10

9.48 ± 3.88

5.09 ± 2.83

Qi River

Downstream

0.98 ± 0.22

1.19 ± 0.46

2.58 ± 3.43

7.01 ± 3.11

Midstream

0.83 ± 0.32

1.13 ± 1.02

1.79 ± 1.13

5.32 ± 2.34

Upstream

1.06 ± 0.73

1.26 ± 0.79

5.50 ± 3.53

7.50 ± 6.14

Low flow season

Jinshui River

Downstream

0.60 ± 0.16

3.43 ± 0.97

2.64 ± 1.11

4.59 ± 2.29

Midstream

1.00 ± 0.07

2.19 ± 1.14

5.21 ± 3.46

3.32 ± 3.25

Upstream

1.03 ± 0.37

2.44 ± 1.92

2.72 ± 0.40

5.36 ± 0.75

Qi River

Downstream

1.81 ± 1.43

2.89 ± 0.67

2.87 ± 1.75

5.16 ± 1.21^a

Midstream

0.94 ± 0.25

2.10 ± 0.72

1.47 ± 0.64

5.06 ± 0.27^a

Upstream

0.58 ± 0.32

1.73 ± 0.59

3.26 ± 1.00

2.74 ± 4.39^b