Biosci. Biotech. Res. Comm. Vol. 4, No. 2, Dec, 2011 (219-222)

Studies on abiotic components of Upper Wardha Dam , with reference to plankton diversity C. B. Meshram* and P.J. Awate Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati and Shri Dnyaneshwar Vidyamandir, Sahur, Dt-Wardha

ABSTRACT Studies on physico-chemical parameters of Upper Wardha Project Dam were carried out to assess the potability of water and for its planktonic diversity. Some abiotic components like water temperature, transparency, DO, and nutrients like nitrates and phosphates were studied during the study period. Water temperature exhibited feeble positive correlation with zooplankton. Transparency played an important role in flourishing population of phytoplankton as it established a positive correlation at 1% level of significance (r=0.729). The dissolved oxygen in water of the dam ranged from 5.00 mg/l to 9.10 mg/l at stations II and III characterized as good level of water body.Nutrients like nitrate and phosphate present in the water body were found below the permissible limits, which confirms that the water is unpolluted and safe for drinking purposes. At present the Upper Wardha project dam is of mesotrophic nature.

Key words : Physico-chemical parameters, Zooplankton, Phytoplankton, Upper Wardha dam, Mesotrophic.

INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS Influence of physico-chemical parameters with Upper Wardha Project dam of Simbhora, known as fluctuation of Zooplankton are of great importance and “NAL DAMYANTI SAGAR” is situated at the border of basically essential for fish culture. The water of Upper Amravati and . It is at 78 0-03'-27” E Wardha Project is utilized for drinking, Irrigation and for longitude and 21 0-16'-18” N latitude. Total catchment fishery activities. It is necessary that the quality of water area spread is over 4302 Km2 with the total height 39.90 should be checked periodically because due to use of meter. Gross storage capacity of the reservoir is about contaminated water pollution may suffer from a variety 678.27 Mm3 . Station wise water samples from five of water bourn diseases. Sunkud and Patil (2004) in the different sampling stations were collected regularly on Fort lake of Belgaun. In many areas, the ecological monthly basis in between 8 a..m to 10 a.m. Water impacts from human activities will far exceed the temperature, pH, DO and TDS observed at sampling impacts from climate change, Scholze, et al., (2006), site using water analysis kit (Systronic Make) while have worked on a climate-change risk analysis for other abiotic components were analyzed at laboratory world ecosystems, Islam (2007) in a pond of Rajshahi condition using the method prescribed by APHA (1998). University, has investigated the effects of abiotic parameters on the variations of zooplankton RESULTS AND DISCUSSION population. Nelson et. al., (2009) carried out a detailed Station wise mean values of physico-chemical study on the combined effects of urbanization and parameters are given in Table-1. climate change on stream ecosystems: from impacts to Water Temperature (WT) :- Observed WT from five management options. Similarly, Durance and different sampling stations was in the range of 19o C to Ormerod (2009 ) have investigated existing trends in 31o C with the mean values 26.11o C Water temperature water quality and the consequent discharge confound remain high during summer months due to lower down long-term warming effects on river macro-invertebrates. water level and clear atmosphere. Salve (2006) also The present study was aimed to evaluate water quality reported similar trends in Wan Prakalp reservoir, and occurrence of zooplankton and phytoplankton with , pH value ranged from minimum 6.05 to reference to physico-chemical parameters in a large maximum 7.48 at sampling station- II. The pH of water dam of Upper Wardha Project, Amravati (M.S). tends towards alkaline nature. Minimum pH was found in the month of April (summer) and reached to the SCIENCE th R A O N Received 11 Oct. 2011 F D maxima in the month of December (winter).This is in Y N th T A E I T Accepted after revision 12 Dec. 2011

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R agreement with the findings of Manjare et al., (2010) S

E *Corresponding Author BBRC ISSN : 0974 - 6455 who studied the Vadgaon tank of Kolhapur. Mean and Science For Life A Soc Sci Nat India Publication range pH value of all the five stations observed was 223 Meshram and Awate Biosci. Biotech. Res. Comm. Vol. 4, No. 2, Dec, 2011 (219-222)

6.98± 0.10. al., (2010) who found that dissolved oxygens less during summer season. Average DO in the preset study Transparency: - Fresh water body in the present also exceeded the limit of 5 mg/L as per European investigation showed no typical trend. Average mean Environmental Commission (Chapman,1997) and value of water transparency evaluated is 47.68 cm. It mean value observed in the present investigation was was found higher in the summer season which might be 7.91 mg/L. Therefore, it can be concluded that water is due to suspended particles accumulated during safe for human consumption.Total hardness: mean summer months or may be attributed to human activity value of total hardness of five different stations was like washing and bathing. Jaybhaye (2009) also observed as 127.17mg/L. the minimum and maximum reported similar trends in Parola dam of . evaluated was 86 mg/L and 226 mg/L respectively. it TDS: - At station-II the total dissolved solid was found was found in the permissible limit. Nitrates : In the fresh higher 400mg/L with the mean value considering all the water nitrate content is meager. In the present study the five stations was 315.71mg/L. It is in the range of average values of nitrate of all the sampling stations permissible limit. Higher TDS attributes to high were observed to be 0.48 mg/L. There was no dissolved and suspended particles in to the water. seasonal trend in the concentration of nitrates and Turbidity: The water was less turbid as observed during minimum concentration was found 0.19 mg/L at station- study period. Monsoon months particularly showed II, while maximum 0.87 mg/L at station-V. nitrates were turbid water which is attributed to the surface runoff in estimated more in winter season, this is in agreement the rainy season from the catchment area; recently with the findings of Islam (2007). Manjare et al., (2010) have reported higher turbidity in summer season. Average mean turbidity values of the Sulphate: - Occurrence of sulphate in the water is due to entire sampling site calculated to 39.95 NTU. influx of runoff and leaching process. The average mean of water sulphate content was found to be 12.46 mg/L Alkalinity : Total alkalinity was in the ranged from 106 which is in the permissible limit. Bhagat et al., (2008) mg/L to 330 mg/L at sampling station – III and sampling have also observed minimum sulphate content in station –I (Table-1)respectively. The maximum value Ambadi dam, near Akot Dt. Akola. Phosphate: - The recorded in the month of January (winter) and minimum lower and higher values fluctuated from 0.02 mg/L to in the month of August (monsoon). The alkaline water 0.60 mg/L at station-I and III respectively. Average mean was found productive. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) : It is one of all the five stations calculated 0.25 mg/L Winter of the important parameters in the water quality months contribute higher concentration as compared to assessment and reflects the physical and biological monsoon and summer seasons. Higher values may be processes prevailing in water. D.O varied from due to accumulation of surface agricultural runoff and 5.00mg/L to the maximum 9.10 mg/L. The level of DO washing activities that contributed to the inorganic was found less during the month of May (summer). This phosphate content. is because of the low solubility of gases at high temperature (Hynes, 1978); similarly during summer The pollution indicators phytoplankton and zooplankton water volume also decreased and became more were less in number at all the stations similarly abiotic concentrated with the pollutants. Decreased DO in components are found in the safe limit which confirms summer correlates with the higher solubility of oxygen at that the water is safe for drinking and also for healthy lower temperature. fish culture. The present status of water body is mesotrophic and unpolluted hence, the water can be This is in agreement with the recent findings of Garg et utilized for irrigation, drinking and fishery activities.

224 Meshram and Awate Biosci. Biotech. Res. Comm. Vol. 4, No. 2, Dec, 2011 (219-222)

Table 1 : Showing station wise mean values of Upper Wardha Project during April 2008 - May 2009

Parameters Sampling stations – I to V I II III IV V Water temperature ( o C) 25.76 25.82 25.36 25.66 26.11 Transparency (cm) 25.76 43.95 70.64 61.29 27.11 pH 7.05 6.95 6.93 6.82 6.98 Turbidity ( NTU ) 43.20 41.57 32.40 38.17 44.40 Total Dissolved Solid 282.86 251.43 264.29 260.00 315.71 Alkalinity (mg / L) 208.29 153.00 163.57 158.14 185.14 DO (mg/L) 7.12 7.41 6.47 6.20 7.91 Total Hardness (mg/L) 135.00 128.57 128.57 126.29 117.43 Nitrate (mg/L) 0.52 0.43 0.45 0.49 0.49 Sulphate (mg/L) 9.75 9.68 9.27 13.69 19.89 Phosphate (mg/L) 0.18 0.31 0.29 0.16 0.32

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