Hydrographic Properties of Selected Stretches of the Calabar River, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study on the hydrographic (tidal range, speed of flow and Physicochemical parameters) characteristics of the Calabar River was carried out for three months at three sampling points. The result obtained for the tidal range of the Calabar River from the three sampling points ranged between 0.2m to 0.98m. Statistical analysis revealed that the difference in the tidal range between the sampling stations was not significant (P > 0.05). The speed of flow ranged between 0.72m/s and 1.15m/s. The difference in the speed of flow values between the three stations was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). Physicochemical parameters showed that the pH of water from the three sampling points ranged between 4.90 to 6.55 (P > 0.05). Conductivity values ranged between 194 µm/S and 955 µm/S. (P < 0.05). Dissolved Oxygen ranged from a minimum of 2.5 mg/l to 5.1 mg/l (P < 0.05). Salinity (mg/l) ranged from 0.13 mg/l to 0.63 mg/l in the study (P < 0.05). Nitrate concentration ranged from 0.32 mg/l to 0.57 mg/l (P > 0.05). Nitrite concentration ranged from 0.030 mg/l to 0.2 mg/l (P >0.05). Alkalinity concentration ranged from 9.0 mg/l to 55.10 mg/l. (P < 0.05). Turbidity concentration ranged between 5.2 mg/l and 65.6 mg/l (P < 0.05). Temperature ranged from 25oC to 28oC (P < 0.05). Total dissolve solute (TDS) concentration ranged between 132.66 mg/l and 668.5 mg/l (P >0.05).