TITLE:
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Dynamics in the Shallow Lake Agmon (Hula Valley, Israel)
AUTHORS:
Moshe Gophen
KEYWORDS:
Hula, Agmon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Macrophytes
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.5 No.3,
March
5,
2015
ABSTRACT: Lake Agmon is a newly created shallow body of water which is a principle
component of a reclamation project (Hula Project, HP) in the Hula Valley
(Israel). The objectives of the HP are aimed at Lake Kinneret water quality
protection, and improvements of the hydrological, and agricultural managements
within the entire Hula Valley including the eco-touristic quality of the Agmon
site. Thirteen years of research and monitoring, are summarized by focusing on nitrogen
and phosphorus dynamics. It was found that the decay of submerged vegetation was
the major P contribution to the Agmon effluents as dissolved (TDP) and plant
debris particle forms. Peat soil gypsum dissolution contribute sulfate to
drained waters and consequently to Agmon outflows. The Agmon system is operated
as a nitrogen sink by de-nitrification and
particulate sedimentation and contributor of plant mediated phosphorus.
In the reconstructed Jordan flows into the Agmon, a stable composition of
nutrients was indicated but those of the peat drainage and the lake effluents
represented the higher level in winter and lower in summer. Anoxic conditions
in the water column enhancing sulfate reduction are negligible and rarely observed.
The Agmon merit to the reclamation process was achieved.