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Research Journals >
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences (IJMS) >
IJMS Vol.41 [2012] >
IJMS Vol.41(2) [April 2012] >
| Title: | Water quality variation and nutrient characteristics of Kodungallur-Azhikode Estuary, Kerala, India |
| Authors: | Jayachandran, P.R.
Nandan, S. Bijoy
Sreedevi, O.K. |
| Keywords: | Water Quality
Eutrophication
Nutrients
Estuary |
| Issue Date: | Apr-2012 |
| Publisher: | NISCAIR-CSIR, India |
| Abstract: | Present study focussed on the water quality status in relation to various
anthropogenic activities in the Kodungallur-Azhikode Estuary (KAE). Average depth of the estuary
was 3.6 ± 0.2 m with maximum of 4.3 ± 0.4 m in the estuarine mouth. Dissolved oxygen showed an
average of 5.1±1 mg/l in the water column, whereas the highest BOD
value was noticed during monsoon period (3.1 ± 0.8 mg/l) which could
be due to high organic enrichment in the water column. pH displayed
slightly alkaline condition in most of the stations and it varied from 7.2 ± 0.5 in Station 7
to 7.5
± 0.5 in Station 1. Salinity in the estuary
displayed mixo-mesohaline nature with clear
vertical stratification. High river discharge could have resulted in nutrients and
silt loading into the estuary, which makes a highly turbid water column
particularly during the monsoon period, which limits light penetration and
subsequent primary productivity. Turbidity in the water column showed an
average of 20.2 ± 15.8 NTU. Estuary was nitrogen limited during post and pre
monsoon periods. Nitrate-nitrogen content in the estuarine water gave negative
correlation with ammonia. |
| Page(s): | 180-187 |
| CC License: |  CC Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India |
| ISSN: | 0975-1033 (Online); 0379-5136 (Print) |
| Source: | IJMS Vol.41(2) [April 2012]
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