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Sediment‐bound nutrient export from five small reservoir catchments and its implications for the Sudan savanna zone of Ghana
Author(s) -
Amegashie Bright K.,
Quansah Charles,
Agyare Wilson A.,
Tamene Lulseged,
Vlek Paul L. G.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
lakes and reservoirs: research and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.296
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1440-1770
pISSN - 1320-5331
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1770.2011.00459.x
Subject(s) - nutrient , sediment , soil water , drainage basin , silt , hydrology (agriculture) , sedimentation , environmental science , total organic carbon , erosion , geology , soil science , ecology , geography , biology , geomorphology , cartography , geotechnical engineering
A study was carried out in the Sudan savanna zone in the Upper East Region of Ghana to assess the rate of sediment‐bound nutrient export (NE) into five small reservoirs (Dua, Doba, Zebilla, Kumpalgogo and Bugri) and to analyse the implications of this export. The catchment soils and reservoir sediments from the various study sites were sampled and analysed for their bulk density, particle size distribution and nutrient content. Assessment of the nutrient concentrations indicated that the reservoir sediments were richer not only in nutrients and organic carbon, but also in clay and silt, than the catchment soils, having enrichment ratios >1. Nutrient export rates (NE; kg ha −1 year −1 ) from the reservoir catchments ranged from 0.755 (±0.264) for OC, 0.104 (±0.0245) for N, 0.0020 (±0.0003) for P, 0.016 (±0.0038) for K, 0.009 (±0.0024) for Na, 0.113 (±0.017) for Ca and 0.027 (±0.0093) for Mg. These rates were lower than those of other studies, likely due to the low nutrient content in the catchment soils. The relationships established between NE and specific sediment yield (SSY) indicated the NE was positively correlated with SSY ( R 2 = 0.66–0.98). The derived empirical equations can be satisfactorily used to predict the quantity of sediment‐bound plant nutrients lost from similar catchments and subsequently stored in the reservoir sediments. The study results also suggest the need for sustainable land management practices to forestall erosion in the catchment areas and to reduce reservoir sedimentation, for enhancement of the livelihoods of the communities in the study area.