Research Article Sahoo et al., J Oceanogr Mar Res 2017, 5:2 DOI: 10.4172/2572-3103.1000162 Journal of Oceanography and Marine Research J o u r n a l o f O c e a n o g r a p h y a n d M a r i n e R e s e a r c h ISSN: 2572-3103 Volume 5 • Issue 2 • 1000162 J Oceanogr Mar Res, an open access journal ISSN: 2572-3103 *Corresponding author: Sahoo K, Ph.D. (Microbiology), SERB-Young Scientist, Biomics and Biodiversity Laboratory, Centre of Biotechnology, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha-751003, India, Tel: +91-9861108003; E-mail: kalpanactc@gmail.com Received April 24, 2017; Accepted May 12, 2017; Published May 19, 2017 Citation: Sahoo K, Jee PK, Dhal NK, Das R (2017) Physico-Chemical Sediment Properties of Mangroves of Odisha, India. J Oceanogr Mar Res 5: 162. doi: 10.4172/2572-3103.1000162 Copyright: © 2017 Sahoo K, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Keywords: Physicochemical properties; Mangrove sediments; Ecological assessment Introduction Mangrove forests occupy several million hectares of coastal area worldwide and support an ecosystem, comprised of plants, animals and microorganisms, having a dynamic environment. Te total area covered by mangroves in India is estimated to be 6,740 km 2 , which accounts for about 7% of the world’s total mangrove vegetation. Mangrove ecosystem is known to be very rich due to high amount of dissolved and particulate organic matter which acts as a homeland for diverse microbes. Sediments are originated basically from soil erosion, decomposition of plants and animals within the estuary itself. A lot of previous reports are available over the last few decades on the biogeochemical role of estuaries and mangrove ecosystems [1,2], but there is little information which links the role of these ecosystems in enhancing production functions of the adjacent agro ecosystems through nutrient export. Many reports are available on the physico-chemical features of Indian estuaries [3-11]. Mangroves ecosystem of Odisha is a very less explored ecosystem. Odisha is located between 17 ° 49’ N and 22 ° 34’ N latitudes and between 81 ° 27’ E and 87 ° 29’ E longitudes. Out of 52,472 sq.km of forested area mangrove forests constitute 243 sq. km. Odisha consists of mangroves in fve diferent areas such as Bhitarakanika, Dhamra, Mahanadi, Devi and Budhabalanga. In the present study, the physico-chemical parameters such as pH, conductivity, organic carbon, salinity, alkalinity and total phosphorus were analysed from sediments of fve diferent sampling sites of Odisha. Materials and Methods Study area and description of sampling sites Samples have been collected from fve diferent mangrove areas of Odisha (Figure 1) and the sampling sites were described as follows. Bhitarakanika (SITE-1): Bhitarkanika is the second largest mangrove ecosystem of India situated at Long. 20°30’ N and Lat. 86°45’ E. Te mangroves cover an area of 650 sq. km. Te sediment samples were collected from fve diferent localities such as Kantaikhai (BKS- 1), Khola (BKS-2), Dangamal (BKS-3), Mahisamunda (BKS-4) and Dangmal (BKS-5). Dhamra (SITE-2): Dhamra mangrove ecosystem is present in the bank of river Dhamra situated at Long. 20°47’ N and Lat. 86°56’ E. A small patch of mangroves present in the port site has been identifed for protection by the Dhamra port. Sediment samples were collected from Kalanali jora site (DHS-1), Chandinipal (DHS-2), Dhamra MAPOT (DHS-3), Jyotsnamayee (DHS-4), and Kalanali mangrove site (DHS-5). Mahanadi (SITE-3): Mahanadi mangrove is located in the combined delta of the rivers Mahanadi and situated at Long. 20°17’ N and Lat. 86°42’ E. Te Mahanadi delta occupied an area of 9,000 sq.km. Sediment samples were collected from Kansardi (MHS-1), MHS-2, MHS-3, Ghangholia jora site (MHS-4) and MHS-4.1.4. Devi Mouth (SITE-4): Te Devi mouth mangrove is located in the district of Jagatsinghpur (9° km) situated at Long. 19° 58’ N and Lat. 86° 22’ E. Sediment samples were collected from the mangrove areas of Machamachikuda (DVS-1), Bandar (DVS-2), Nadiakhia (DVS-3), Nentai (DVS-4) and Kiakhala (DVS-5). Budhabalanga (SITE-5): Te Budhabalanga estuarine mangrove situated at Long. 21° 28’ N to Lat. 87° °5’ E. Sediment samples have been collected from Balaramgadi (BDS-1), Haldigudi (BDS-2), Nandachaha (BDS-3), Sanipala (BDS-4) and Budhabalanga River (BDS-5). Collection and processing of sediment Sediment samples were collected with an air dried Beckman’s grab in the month of October from all the sampling areas. Te sediment collected were aseptically transferred to the labeled polythene bags and kept in an ice-chest box before transferring to the laboratory. Physico-Chemical Sediment Properties of Mangroves of Odisha, India Sahoo K 1 *, Pravas Kumar Jee 2 , Nabin Kumar Dhal 3 and Ritarani Das 4 1 Biomics and Biodiversity Laboratory, Centre of Biotechnology, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha-751003, India 2 Geological Survey of India (GSI), Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Kolkata-700016, India 3 CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Council of Scientifc and Industrial Research, Bhubaneswar-751013, Odisha, India 4 Department of Botany, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha-751013, India Abstract The physico-chemical properties of sediments are most likely control the reforestation success as well as the nutrient recycling in mangrove sites. A study of physico-chemical parameters of mangrove sediments of Odisha from fve different sampling sites such as Bhitarakanika, Dhamra, Mahanadi, Devi and Budhabalanga was carried out. Different physico-chemical characters such as pH, conductivity, salinity, Organic carbon, alkalinity and total phosphates were analysed. The pH was found to be alkaline i.e., 8.77 ± 0.10 at Budhabalanga whereas slightly acidic i.e., 4.32 ± 0.12 at Devi sampling site of Odisha. Salinity was maximum i.e., 4.63 ± 0.16 PSU at Bhitarakanika whereas minimum i.e., 0.39 ± 0.0.05 PSU at Budhabalanga sampling sites. Organic carbon content was maximum i.e., 51.86 ± 0.11 mg/g at Bhitarakanika site whereas minimum i.e., 6.7 ± 0.12 mg/g at Budhabalanga site. The present study would form a useful tool for further ecological assessment and monitoring of the coastal mangrove ecosystems of Odisha. Open Access