NITROGEN LOADING OF MERBOK RIVER, KEDAH
Wan Ruslan Ismail1,2, Mohd Nazrul Ibrahim1, Mohd Kusyairi Mohd Zahir1,
Zullyadini A. Rahaman1
1 HydroGeomorphology
Research Group, Section of Geography, School of Humanities,
Universiti
Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
2 Centre for
Global Sustainability Studies
Universiti
Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Summary
A study was
conducted from October 2011 to February 2012 in the catchment of Gurun and Upper Merbok
River with the purpose to determine nutrient loading in Merbok river catchment as
aconsequences of development activities in that area. Result from our short study period in the Merbok river catchment revealed
that the nutrients was in low concentrations at the upper segment but increased
in concentration at the lower segment. The output of nitrite at segment 1 during
sampling period was 48.8 tonnes with 96.9 %.
The output of nitrite at segment 2 was 289.4 tonnes (83.1%) and output
at segment 3 which is represent the total output of the whole catchment was 4325.6 tonnes. The amount
of nitrite load removed from the catchment was 4036.2 tonnes (93.3%). For output
of nitrate at segment 1 was 68.6 tonnes (88.9%) and the ouput at segment 2 was
570.7 tonnes (88%). The total output of nitrate was 7496.5 tonnes based on
output of segment 3; Merbok. The output of ammonium nitrogen at segment 1 during
sampling period was 23.9 tonnes with 99.7 %.
The output of ammonium nitrogen at segment 2 was 108.2 tonnes (77.9%)
and output at segment 3 which is represent the total output of the whole catchment was 2216.5 tonnes. The amount
of ammonium nitrogen load removed from the catchment was 2108.3 tonnes (95.1%) (See Figure).
a) Nitrite loading
b) Nitrate loading
c) Ammoniacal Nitrogen loading
Figure 1. Nitrite, Nitrate and Ammonium nitrogen loading in the Merbok catchment. The black part is the downstream of Merbok river. Meanwhile, the blue is middle
segment part and the light blue part is
the upper segment of Merbok River catchment.
Acknowledgement: Universiti Sains Malaysia for RU grant entitle "Land use and land cover changes in the Gurun and Upper Merbok River and the possible effect on euthrophication of Merbok Estuary, Kedah" No: 1001/PHUMANITI/816229.
