Nutrient Salts and Eutrophication Assessment in Northern Delta Lakes: Case study Burullus Lake, Egypt

A. Elsayed, Fathy; A. Okbah, Mohamed; M. El-Syed, Seliem; A. Eissa, Manal; E. Goher, Mohamed

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2019.30239

Nutrient Salts and Eutrophication Assessment in Northern Delta Lakes: Case study Burullus Lake, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejabf.2019.30239

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the levels of nutrient salts and eutrophication status in Burullus Lake water. Most of the physicochemical characteristics showed wide variations among the sites and seasons (p<0.01). The water of the lake was in the alkaline side, and pH value fluctuated in the range (7.47-8.96). The lake water was oxygenated around the year (2.10 and 13.40 mg/l). The nutrient salts showed a lot of fluctuations, often occurring in high concentrations, with a remarkable spatial and temporal difference (p<0.001). As a result of nutrient enrichment, Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) recorded abnormal high concentrations up to 648.3 µg/L. TN:TP ratio implied that phosphorus is the limiting factor for phytoplankton growth in Burullus Lake. The high levels of nutrient salts and Chl-a together serve as a good indicator of hypertrophic levels in the lake water. This observation was confirmed by the data of the Trophic State Index (TSI) using Chl-a, TP, TN, and Secchi depth that indicated the hypereutrophic state of Burullus Lake associated with poorly of its water quality. Our results indicated the existence of dramatic deterioration in Burullus Lake because of human activities and the discharge of wastewater to the lake.

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