Assessment of bioavailable nitrogen and phosphorus content in the sediments of Indian mangroves.

Efficient nutrient cycling and adequate sediment bioavailable nutrient supply are considered to be the two most important factors regulating the high productivity and subsequent carbon sequestration by mangrove ecosystems. We assessed spatial variability and the possible regulating factors of sediment bioavailable nutrients (nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) and surface water-dissolved nutrients (N, P and silicate (Si)) in the five ecologically important mangrove ecosystems along the east and west coast of India during dry season. Higher bioavailable nitrogen concentrations in the sediments were recorded in Coringa mangroves (36.