Nutrients in some estuaries of Kerala

Abstract

Some environmental parameters and nutrients like inorganic phosphate, nitrate, nitrite and ammonia from four estuaries namely Kallai, Beypore, Korapuzha and Mahe along north Kerala Coast were studied for an year (1980-81). In all these estuaries seasonal variations in environmental features were related to the monsoonal cycle and follows the pattern reported for other estuaries of west coast of India. Inorganic phosphate did not show any clear pattern or pronounced seasonal variations. Inorganic phosphate and ammonia were high at Kallai compared to other three estuaries. All the estuaries showed an increase in nitrate content during monsoon. Nitrite values were high in postmonsoon. Ammonia levels were generally high except at Korapuzha. Nutrient content was in general higher in the bottom waters than in the surface in these estuaries. The present values are compared to the reported figures of other west coast estuaries and discussed