HORIZONTAL VARIABILITY OF ORGANIC CARBON IN KERTEH MANGROVE FORESTS, MALAYSIA

Abstract

The organic carbon content at three transects (TR1, TR2 and TR3) in Kerteh Mangrove Forest surface sediments were analyzed using the wet dichromate oxidation method. The sediment particle size at the same transects were also measured with the laser diffraction method – particle size analyses (PSA). The average concentration of organic carbon at TR1, TR2 and TR3 were 3.22 ± 0.19%, 3.87 ± 0.19% and 4.73 ± 0.59%, respectively. Meanwhile their average mean grain size were 3.99 ± 0.22?, 4.20 ± 0.34? and 4.69 ± 0.28?. In this study, the carbon organic showed a significant relationship with the mean sediment size (P < 0.05), with the organic carbon content increase with the increase of mean size values.

Kandungan karbon organik pada tiga transek (TR1, TR2 dan TR3) di permukaan sedimen Hutan Paya Bakau Kerteh telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan kaedah pengoksidaan dikromat basah. Saiz partikel sedimen juga diukur di transek yang sama dengan menggunakan kaedah penyerakan laser – analisis saiz partikel (PSA). Purata kandungan karbon organik di TR1, TR2 dan TR3 masing-masing adalah 3.22 ± 0.19%, 3.87 ± 0.19% dan 4.73 ± 0.59%. Manakala nilai purata saiz partikel adalah 3.99 ± 0.22?, 4.20 ± 0.34? dan 4.69 ± 0.28?. Dalam kajian ini, karbon organik didapati mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan (P < 0.05) terhadap partikel saiz, yang mana kandungan karbon organik akan meningkat dengan peningkatan nilai min saiz partikel.