Spatiotemporal variation in primary nutrients amassing in peninsular river sediment: India

Damodar is an important river of the industrial state Jharkhand, India. It menders through various coal mining regions is now under serious threats due to industrial and sewage discharge which is rich in TOC, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (primary nutrient plants). Hence, present research work was formulated with the hypothesis of “river sediment possess high concentration of primary nutrients which can be used in mine site reclamation”. In this regard, spatiotemporal and seasonal variations in concentration of these nutrients were studied to know its sources. Nutrient index of the sediment was assessed to compare its fertility with soil for its utilization in mine site reclamation and pollution control of the river. Study area has momentous spatial variation; Garga river (site 12) carry sewage and effluent from Bokaro steel city having maximum concentration of TOC, available N, and P, while available K was maximum at Chandrapura thermal power plant (site 9). Substantial seasonal and temporal disparity in nutrient concentration was also found. In 2014, TOC (0.82 and 0.5)%, available N (12.3 mg/kg and 7.9 mg/kg), P (11.3 mg/kg and 6.2 mg/kg), and available K was (218 mg/kg and 201.7 mg/kg), respectively, in pre- and post-monsoon. These amplified to 39% for TOC, 19–29% for nitrogen, more than 35% for phosphorus and 2.9–3.9% for K by 2016. The nutrient index was medium for TOC and pH except low in 2014 post-monsoon. Nutrient index for nitrogen was low while high for phosphorus and potassium during the study.