Analysis of water quality factors influencing the speciation of inorganic nitrogen using GRA

Based on the water quality data from 2006 to 2008, grey relational analysis (GRA) is used to analyze factors that may have influence on the speciation of inorganic nitrogen in the Chengdu section of middle Min river. The results show that water temperature, changing from 20.2 +/- 2.7, 13.4 +/- 5.7 and 16.8 +/- 5.6 degrees C, is the first restrictive factor for the speciation of inorganic nitrogen; it is negatively correlated with the ratio of total ammonia nitrogen to total inorganic nitrogen contents [m(AN)/m(TIN)] in three different periods of wet season, dry season and year-round. The average pH values for years, in wet and dry periods are 7.6 +/- 0.4, 7.3 +/- 0.3 and 7.8 +/- 0.2, respectively, and have different influences in different seasons. It is the second restrictive factor and positive correlation between pH and m(AN)/m(TIN) in wet season and through the year yet it is the fourth factor in dry seasons. The values of dissolved oxygen (DO), which are 4.6 +/- 1.4, 4.6 +/- 2.4, 4.6 +/- 2.0 respectively, is the third factor and negatively correlates with m(AN)/m(TIN) in third different periods. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) indirectly inhibits the nitrifying bacteria because the DO is depleted in the decomposition of organic matter by heterotrophic bacteria, showing the positive correlation.As the alkalinity can meet the requirement of nitrification in wet season and through the year, it is not restrictive factor. However, it is the second restrictive factor in dry season because of low content of alkalinity inhibiting the growth of nitrifying bacteria.