ASSESSMENT OF ELEMENTAL CARBON, NITROGEN, HYDROGEN AND SULPHUR IN ALLUVIAL SEDIMENTS OF RIVER YAMUNA IN DELHI REGIONVivek Chopra and Jai Gopal SharmaAbstract River Yamuna a major wetland on which significant portion of the population of Delhi depends for thedaily requirements of water usage has been analyzed for elemental Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H),Nitrogen(N)and Sulphur(S) as well as the ratio of Nitrogen and Hydrogen with Carbon. Total of 18 samples were collected from 2 different sites of the Yamuna. Site APalla village where Yamuna enters in Delhi. Nine samples were collected from river bed vertically from 3 different locations with 3 samples from each location at varying depths. Same set of sampling was done at Site 2 Okhla barrage and 9 samples were collected from 3 various locations at different depths of river bed. Average percentage concentration of C, H, N and S at site A on the surface (0-2 cm) of river was 0.256, 0.223, 0.173 and 0.012 while at depth range of 26-32 cm and 59-80 cm was 0.3, 0.22, 0.2, 0.02 and 0.303, 0.189, 0.146 and 0.011 respectively. Average percentage concentration of C, H, N, and S at site B at the surface (0-2 cm) of river bed was measured as 0.216, 0.176, 0.15, and 0.024 and at depth range of 26-32 cm it was 0.52, 0.22, 0.16, and 0.061 while it was 0.33, 0.284, 0.19, and 0.0495 at an average depth of 62-69cm. C/N and C/H ratio ranged from 1.461 to 3.0769 and 1.194 to 2.1769 respectively at both the sites. The analysis of above data helps to determine the difference in concentration and deposition of elements at different vertical levels of strata of the river bed which ultimately increases our understanding about complex aquatic ecosystems and helps in conservation. |