Current state of eutrophication using the mathematical model of the trophic state index (IET) in the Paca Lagoon of the Jauja province

Abstract

Eutrophication is a global problem and according to many studies, moved from a natural problem to a cultural problem. Through the years, the eutrophication problem has been growing in all parts of the world due to the green revolution in the 60s which consisted in the production of agrochemicals with high phosphorus and nitrogen content. The main objective of this research is to study the current status of eutrophication in the Paca lagoon using the Eutrophic Status Index (IET), a method widely used to determine the eutrophic state of a lagoon. For its determination, the following parameters were used: turbidity, total phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. Turbidity was measured in meters, total phosphorus and chlorophyll-a in parts per million. A monitoring procedure in the field and later in the laboratory was followed. Once the data for each parameter were obtained, the trophic status index (IET) was calculated. The averages of the monitored and processed parameters were obtained, being for turbidity 48,464, 48,346 and 48,307 meters, for total phosphorus were 47,132, 47,236 and 46,916 mg/m3 and for chlorophyll-a were 48,397, 40,741 and 44,750 mg/m3, these values showed that the Paca lagoon is on a mesotrophic state. To evaluate the behavior of eutrophication in the Paca lagoon, the current data were compared to the previous data monitored by the public institutions in charge, the results were for the EIT, in turbidity 51,071 meters, total phosphorus 48,273 mg/m3 and chlorophyll-a 49,709 mg/m3, this confirms that the Paca lagoon is on a mesotrophic state. For the eutrophy degree the results were turbidity 1.86 m, total phosphorus 25.385 ug/l and chlorophyll-a 5.840 ug/l