Assessment of Physico-chemical Characteristics of Sediment in Qarun Lake, Egypt

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

2 Chemist at City of Scientific Research and Technological Application - New Borg El-Arab City – Alexandria , Egypt

10.21608/mjb.2020.460376

Abstract

Qarun Lake is considered the oldest natural lakes in the world, the third-largest lake in Egypt and the rest of Lake Old Maurice. The aim of this study was to analyze the sediment quality of Qarun Lake, Egypt. Therefore, 12 geo-referenced sediment samples were collected from Qarun Lake for determined the physical and chemical parameters of the sediment. Cluster analyses (CA) based on Bray-Curtis similarity index and ordination of sites (DCA) was calculated. Results showed variability between the sites distributed in the lake. Calculated average sediment variables indicated that, the south part of lake is affected by anthropogenic activities than north part, due to drainage water from number of drains (such as El-Bats, El Mashroah and El-Wadi drains). Total nitrogen and phosphorus was varied from stand to the other, which varied from 15.85 to 30.05 ppm and 0.97 to 2.27 ppm with a mean value of 22.86 and 1.53 ppm, respectively. The soil pH value measured in all sites varied from slightly alkaline to alkaline in soil reaction (7.50 to 8.89, mean value = 8.55), the electrical conductivity, showed a very wide range (2.87 to 13.54µmhos/cm, mean value = 8.17µmhos/cm.) of variations between sampled stands. The order of different anions of sediments were; Cl- (0.68-1.41%) > SO4-2 (0.94-1.02%) > HCO3- (0.42-0.52%). For extractable cations (mg/100g dry soil), it had the sequence of Na+ (285.77-421.47) > Ca+2 (71.84-103.24) > K+ (45.77-61.76) > Mg+2 (32.99-48.83). Wetlands in Egypt should follow an organized plan from the various authorities in the country 

Keywords

Mansoura Journal of Biology
Volume 49, Issue 4
December 2020
Pages 44-51

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