Soil & Water Res., 2023, 18(3):169-180 | DOI: 10.17221/142/2022-SWR

Assessment of old eutrophication in the sediments of Marchica Lagoon (a post-restored lagoon, Mediterranean): The role of geochemistry and granulometry of the sedimentsOriginal Paper

Abderrahmane Rahhou1*, Mostafa Layachi2, Mustapha Akodad1, Najib El Ouamari2, Asmae Aknaf1, Ali Skalli1, Hamza Loukili1, Youssef Bernichi4, Brahim Oudra3, Mourad Baghour1
1 Laboratory of Biology, Geosciences, Physics and Environment (OLMAN-LBGPE), Multidisciplinary Faculty, Nador, Morocco
2 Regional Center of INRH-Nador (National Institute of Fisheries Research), Morocco
3 Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
4 GAT, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Tangier, University Abdelmalek Essaadi, Tétouan, Morocco

The aim of this study is to present the seasonal variation of organic matter (OM), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) in the bottom sediments of Marchica Lagoon, a post-restorated lagoon located in the Moroccan Mediterranean, and to estimate the potential role of the geochemistry and granulometry of bottom sediments in the retention of old eutrophication. The organic index of bottom sediment was found generally higher in old-eutrophic and enclosed areas. The surface sediments show variable levels of OM, TOC, TP, and TN; high in some cases (12.3%, 6.71%, 0.70%, and 0.30% respectively). These high levels were recorded in the central part of the lagoon and in areas subjected to high anthropogenic pressure, including wastewater discharges. Our results indicated that sediments are an excellent immobilizer of organic matter (C, N, and P), although, there was no correlation between sediment grain size and organic matter content. The absence of correlation might be explained by currentology and hydrodynamics, but also by the bathymetry of the lagoon. Therefore, sediments must be implicated in any lagoon restoration strategy and the site development plan.

Keywords: grain size; nitrogen; organic index; organic matter; phosphorus

Received: October 23, 2022; Accepted: June 28, 2023; Prepublished online: July 20, 2023; Published: August 31, 2023  Show citation

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Rahhou A, Layachi M, Akodad M, El Ouamari N, Aknaf A, Skalli A, et al.. Assessment of old eutrophication in the sediments of Marchica Lagoon (a post-restored lagoon, Mediterranean): The role of geochemistry and granulometry of the sediments. Soil & Water Res. 2023;18(3):169-180. doi: 10.17221/142/2022-SWR.
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