Distribution of Organic Matter in the Substrate of the Pennar River Estuary, Andhra Pradesh

The Pennar River cstuary (N. Lat. 14°33'3"; and 14°6' 13" E.Long. 80°11'54", Fig. 1) sediments were studied seasonally over a period of one year for their organic matter content and its distribution. It is more during monsoonal months than in summer months at the mouth and its increase gradually towards thc upperestuary indicates its derivation is more from the terrestrial sediments than from the sea. A moderate positive correlation has been obtained between organic carbon and organic nitrogen. A rough inverse relationship is noted bctween the organic carbon (or organic nitrogen) and the weight percentage of the fine fraction of the sediments.