Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ANALYSIS OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF LAL SAGAR POND AT JODHPUR, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Jyotsna Shekhawat and Dharmendra Gaur

Abstract

In an aquatic ecosystem all the life process are dependent directly upon various physical and chemical factors. This paper presents the study of the physico-chemical parameters of Lal Sagar Pond, Jodhpur. It is rain fed freshwater reservoir and is situated 7 kms from the city. The widely spread catchments area of reservoir mainly from littoral zone of the reservoir and is supported with submerged macro vegetation. Monthly changes in physical and chemical parameters such as Ambient temperature, Water temperature, pH, TDS, Free Carbon dioxide, Alkalinity (carbonate and bicarbonate), Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate, Phosphate and Fluoride were analyzed for eighteen months from Aug, 2003 to Jan, 2005 The value of ambient temperature varies from 19oC to 37.2oC and water temperature was 17.2oC to 31.3oC. pH observed value was 6.9 to 8.0. TDS recorded from 510 ppm to 590 ppm. Carbonate values ranged from 95 mg/L to 184 mg/ L. Dissolved Oxygen ranged from 1.12 mg/L to 3.48 mg/L. Nutrients concentration showed a wide range of variation. Observed values of nitrate was 1.88 mg/L to 4.99 mg/L and phosphate value was 3.01 mg/L to 7.38 mg/L. Fluoride was recorded with little variation from 0.87 ppm to 4.50 ppm. It was found that carbonate was totally absent during study period. The rise and fall of these factors very frequently affect the flora and fauna, altering their numbers and diversity.