Seasonal variations in carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in sediments of the Vellar Estuary, Porto Novo

Abstract

Seasonal variations were observed in the distribution of organic carbon, nitrogen and total phosphorus in sediments of the Vellar Estuary, Tamil Nadu, India. Summer (April-June) and premonsoon (July-September) seasons recorded high values of carbon (15.56 mg/g) and nitrogen (0.87 mg/g). Total phosphorus was high (0.23 mg/g) during early monsoon (October). Relationships between sediment texture and nutrients are discussed