DefinePK

Abstract

ABSTRACT Rainwater, canopy drip, stem flow, river and infiltration water parameters (pH, redox. potential, conductivity and salinity) and selected nutrients (NH4+, NH3-, PO4---4, K+, Ca++, SO4-, Cu+++, Fe*** Zn)++ were measured during dry, wet and intermediate seasons in mangrove forest at Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Malaysia. The different parameters (pH, redox-potential, conductivity and salinity) of water samples showed seasonal fluctuation. Infiltration water showed comparatively higher conductivity (55.83-71 00 dS/m) followed by river water (18.17-22.17 dS/m) and relatively higher conductivity of rainwater, canopy drip, river and infiltration water was observed during the dry seasons. Macro-nutrients in water samples showed seasonal fluctuation and comparatively higher content of K+, Ca++, Mg++, SO4-, Cu++, Fe+++ and Zn++ were observed in infiltration water. Similar content (0.01 ppm) of Cu++, Fe+++ and Zn++ were detected in rain water, canopy drip and stem flow throughout the seasons, but Cu++, Fe+++ and Zn++ in river and infiltration water show seasonal fluctuation in their content. Macro-nutrients (except NO3) content in rainwater showed positive correlations with canopy drip and stem flow, which indicated the leaching of macro-nutrients from the tree canopy. Irrespectively, NO3, PO4-, Mg++, SO4-, Cu++ and Fe+++ showed positive correlations between river and infiltration water, and could be the evidence of nutrients exchange among the river and infiltration water. Present study showed that rain water, canopy drip, stem flow, river and infiltration water parameters and their nutrients are no static lather fluctuating with the seasonal changes. Key words: Water parameters, Macro-nutrients, Micro-nutrients, Seasonal fluctuation, Mangroves, Malaysia.