In order to estimate microbial P content and biological P uptake in se
diments, the tungstate precipitation method of Orrett & Karl (1987) wa
s used in sediment extracts. This method allows a simple and rapid sep
aration of organic and inorganic P-32 radioactivity. Either inorganic
P-32 (as carrierfree H-3 (PO4)-P-32) or organic P-32 (as P-32-labelled
algal material) was added to surface sediment suspensions of shallow
Lake Balaton. InorganiC P-32 was rapidly transformed into organic P-32
, and this process was completely inhibited by formaline. P content of
living benthic microorganisms was estimated from steady state distrib
ution of the radioactivity. Transformation of algal organic P into ino
rganic P could also be detected. In extremely P limited Lake Balaton b
enthic microorganisms were shown to supplement their high P requiremen
ts by inorganic P uptake. The velocity of the inorganic into organic P
transformation, i.e. the rate of microbial P uptake, was comparable t
o P uptake in the water column. Microbial P uptake contributed signifi
cantly to total P fixation by sediments, particularly at low (less-tha
n-or-equal-to 100 mug P l-1) phosphate additions.