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Preliminary observations on the total phosphorus content of the inshore waters of the Malabar Coast off Calicut

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Proceedings / Indian Academy of Sciences

Summary

The object of this investigation was to study the total phosphorus content of the inshore waters with a view to understanding the phosphorus cycle in the sea. Seasonal variations in the total and soluble inorganic phosphorus concentration in the inshore waters of the Malabar Coast, a region highly productive from the fisheries point of view, was studied over a period of one year during 1954 to 1955 near West Hill, Calicut. Preliminary observations on the data collected have been presented in this account which also include some information on the total phosphorus content of the waters of the east coast near Mandapam. Sea-waters off Calicut were found to be rich in total phosphorus which varied from 1·2 to 9·5µg.-ats. P/1. in the surface layers. Soluble inorganic phosphorus accounted for only 8·5 to 37·0% of the total except in the month of June when the onset of the S.W. monsoon is followed by a steep rise in the total as also the inorganic phosphate. It is probable that release from the bottom muds as a result of the severe agitation of the water column in the monsoon months may explain the high levels of phosphorus compounds. Large-scale mortality of bottom dwelling animals may also play some part in this connection.

A comparative study of the levels on the east and west coasts confirms the usefulness of total phosphorus determinations as an index of the potential fertility of different regions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Marine Fisheries Research Station, Mandapam Camp

    S. V. Suryanarayana Rao

Authors
  1. S. V. Suryanarayana Rao
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Communicated by Dr. N. K. Panikkar,f.a.sc.

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Rao, S.V.S. Preliminary observations on the total phosphorus content of the inshore waters of the Malabar Coast off Calicut. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 45, 77–85 (1957). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03051024

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03051024

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