Sulphate Deficiency of Lake Victoria

Abstract

AN article by Beauchamp¹ suggests that a sulphur shortage in Lake Victoria is a factor limiting the growth-rate of fish. Owing to the fact that sulphates are removed from the water by biological precipitation in the form of plant and animal remains, Beauchamp suggests that the sulphate ultimately becomes anaerobically reduced to insoluble and unavailable sulphides which accumulate in the mud of the lake bed. Thus, although the water is deficient in sulphur, the element may well be present in large quantities at the bottom of the lake. In order to obtain facts as to the distribution of sulphur in the water, mud and vegetation of Lake Victoria, a preliminary investigation has been undertaken in the small, northern area around Jinja.