SPATIO-TEMPORAL VARIATION IN PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SEDIMENTS FROM THE RIVERS OF MANIPUR, NORTH-EAST INDIAM. ROMEO SINGH AND ASHA GUPTAAbstract Sediments are important indicators of anthropogenic activity and have a very important role to play in the interaction between the nutrients and water. Bottom sediments in river systems represents reservoir or sinks for the accumulation of nutrients derived from both natural and man-made resources whose concentration gradually build up on the bottom sediments. Distribution of sediment nutrients in the four rivers of Manipur (Latitude 23.80° N to 25.68°N and Longitude 93.03°E to 94.78°E) viz. the Imphal, Iril, Thoubal and Manipur were studied for a period of one year (April 2008- March 2009) on a seasonal basis. pH, organic carbon, nitrate-nitrogen, available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium were determined along the bed of the four rivers to assess the trends in sediment nutrients. The pH values ranged from 6.31 to 7.67. Organic carbon recorded fluctuated from 0.09% to 0.54%. Sediment nitrogen varied from 3.59 mg/100g to 5.86 mg/100g. Phosphorus content recorded ranged between 10.42 mg/100g and 16.92 mg/100g. Concentration of potassium registered varied between 11.06 mg/100g to 21.00 mg/100g. Out of the four rivers, site selected from Thoubal river exhibited the maximum nutrients level indicating the pollution status of the river. Statistically analysis revealed significantly spatial and temporal variations in nutrients of sediment along the lotic environment. From the results obtained the various factors which attribute to the distribution of pH, organic carbon, nitrate-nitrogen, available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium are discussed in the paper.
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