Sediments of a retting yard

Abstract

Sediments of a coconut husk retting yard and a reference station in Cochin backwaters, Kerala,India were studied for 1 yr. Effects of monsoon were found significant Organic carbon and organic matter showed enrichment in the retting ground sediments(av. 46.8 and 92.3 mg/g respectively) compared to the reference station (20.6 and 48.9 mg/g) and published data on estuarine sediments.C/N ratios were consistently higher in the retting yard. Organic nitrogen, however,did not show this trend. Annual average of bacterial biomass was higher in the reference station (25.7mg/g as against 22.8 mg/g in the retting yard). Seasonal variations were more pronounced in this station. Bacterial contribution to total organics was consistently higher at the reference station (av. 72.55%) compared to the retting yard (av.32.59%).Average energy content calculated for the retting ground was 1819 J/g dry weight, a value about twice that for the reference station and higher than the average for sedimented detritus in the Cochin backwaters (1497.9 J/g).