Premium
Limnological Studies on the River Tigris, Iraq. II. Seasonal Variations of Nutrients
Author(s) -
Saad Massoud A. H.,
Antoine Samir E.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
internationale revue der gesamten hydrobiologie und hydrographie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1522-2632
pISSN - 0020-9309
DOI - 10.1002/iroh.19780630516
Subject(s) - nitrate , nutrient , phosphate , environmental science , phytoplankton , diatom , hydrology (agriculture) , nitrite , seasonality , surface runoff , silicate , environmental chemistry , oceanography , ecology , chemistry , geology , biology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
Regional and seasonal variations of nutrients in the 630 km stretch of the lower Tigris were studied and discussed. The lowest average values for nitrate and phosphate, found in July and October respectively, were correlated mainly with the high rates of uptake by phytoplankton. The lowest average concentration of silicate, recorded in July, can be related principally to the considerable increase in diatom density. Additional nutrients entered into the River Tigris in January through land runoff and in April with the flood waters. The average concentrations of nitrate and phosphate showed an inverse relationship. The average nitrate: nitrite ratio varied from 0.07 : 1 to 782.0 : 1 and the average nitrate : phosphate ratio ranged from 0.01 : 1 to 7.90 : 1.