Fractionation of heavy metals and phosphorus in suspended sediments of the Yamuna river, India

✍ Scribed by G. J. Chakrapani; V. Subramanian

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 413 KB
• Volume: 43
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0167-6369
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00398602

✦ Synopsis

The Yamuna river is the largest tributary of the Ganges river system. It originates in the Himalayas and flows through a varied geological terrain encompassing a large basin area. Metals Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cu in different chemical fractions of suspended sediments such as exchangeable, carbonates, Fe-Mn oxides, organics and residual fractions were studied. Phosphorus associated with different chemical forms are discussed. The metals are mostly associated with residual fractions in the sediments followed by organics, Fe-Mn oxides, exhangeable and carbonates. Intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture in the basin affects the high inorganic phosphorus content in sediments.