The Distribution of Organic Matter and Nutrients by Tidal Current at Demaan Estuary, Jepara

The distribution of organic matter and nutrients in the estuary can be influenced by tidal current. The presence of organic matter and nutrients can determine the water quality. However, the exceed amount of organic matter and nutrient in the water could lead to eutrofication that caused the depletion of dissolved oxygen. The research was aimed to determine the distribution of organic matter and nutrients (i.e. phophate and nitrate) due to the tidal current in Demaan estuary, Jepara. The titration method with permanganate was used to measure the organic matter concentration in the samples. Meanwhile, the spectrophotometric method was used to measure nitrate and phosphate concentration in the samples. Tidal current was simulated by Surface water Modelling System (SMS) software, and the distribution of organic matter, nitrate and phosphate was plotted using ArGIS software. The result showed that the concentration of organic matter and nutrients is higher at ebb tide than flood tide. The distribution of organic matter and phosphate followed the tidal current, flowing to the north at ebb tide and back to south at flood tide. It is concluded that organic matter and phosphate sourced from the rivers.