Accumulation flux of nitrogen in mudflats and its implications for benthic shellfish culture

In order to evaluate impacts of benthic shellfish culture on sediments in the Daguhe Estuary, surface sediments are sampled in February, May, August and November 2009 and the water content and nitrogen content of sediment, accumulation flux of nitrogen are studied. About 40 % of the mudflat in the estuary is used for bottom sowing culture for Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum. The seeding density is 1.1–1.5 kg m⁻² in the estuary if the mean weight of juvenile clam is 0.3–0.5 g. Moreover, the stock density of cultivated clam that can be harvested (with mean weight 8 g) is 450–1,600 individual m⁻², and the annual yield of this species of clam is about 3.4 kg m⁻². There is significant spatial difference of water content of sediment from February to November, during which the water content in the uncultured mudflat, the cultured mudflat and the river way is 32.07, 43.95 and 37.69 %, respectively. There is no significant spatial difference of TN (total nitrogen) content of sediment, and the TN content in the cultured mudflat, the uncultured mudflat and the river way is 0.26, 0.22 and 0.29 mg g⁻¹, respectively. Moreover, the IN (inorganic nitrogen) content of sediment in the cultured mudflat, the uncultured mudflat and the river way is 0.09, 0.08 and 0.14 mg g⁻¹, which implies that there is no significant spatial difference of IN content. Furthermore, there is no significant spatial difference of EN (exchangeable nitrogen) content of sediment from February to November, during which the EN content in the uncultured mudflat or the river way is about 0.04 μg g⁻¹ and it is 0.03 μg g⁻¹ in the cultured mudflat. Thus, the benthic shellfish culture may increase the water content and there is no significant effect of benthic shellfish culture on nitrogen content. The accumulation flux of TN in the cultured mudflat, the uncultured mudflat and the river way is 0.94, 1.13 and 1.40 mg cm⁻² year⁻¹. The accumulation flux of IN in the cultured mudflat, the uncultured mudflat and the river way is 0.31, 0.39 and 0.66 mg cm⁻² year⁻¹. Moreover, the accumulation flux of EN in the uncultured mudflat and the river way is nearly equal, which is 0.21 and 0.20 μg cm⁻² year⁻¹, respectively. The accumulation flux of EN in the cultured mudflat is 0.10 μg cm⁻² year⁻¹. Thus, the benthic shellfish culture in the estuary does not enhance the accumulation of TN or IN. Nevertheless, it may reduce the accumulation of EN. Furthermore, it is cautious to evaluate the effect of benthic shellfish culture on sediments by the nitrogen content only. The accumulation flux of nitrogen may be one better index to evaluate the impact.