American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 15 (6): 1182-1185, 2015 ISSN 1818-6769 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.aejaes.2015.15.6.94241

Physiochemical Analysis of Water and Soil from Gomal Zam Dam of Khajuri Kach in South Waziristan Agency of Pakistan, with Special Reference to Their Impact on Fish Growth and Survival

1Hameed-Ur-Rehman, 23 Zubia Masood, Shagufta Saddozai, 4 Wali Muhammad Achakzai, 3Fariha Mengal, 3 Saima Durrani, 53 Huma Tareen, Farhana Khan and 3 Humara Zahid

1Department of Chemistry, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat District, KPK Province, Pakistan 2Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan 3Department of Zoology, SardarBahadur Khan Women University, Quetta, Pakistan 4Department of Zoology, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan 5Department of Chemistry, SardarBahadur Khan Women University, Quetta, Pakistan

Abstract: A study on physicochemical parameters of water and soil was carried out on Gomal Zam Dam situated in Khajuri Kach of South Waziristan Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan,with special reference to its impact on fish growth and survival. The physicochemical characteristics of both water and soil analyzed in the present study includes i.e., color, odor, elasticity,temperature, pH, conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS). The results of present analysis revealed that the temperature of dam water and soil was above the tolerable range of fishes, hence not suitable for fish survival and growth, whereas the remaining other parameters like color, odor, elasticity, pH, EC, TDS were found in suitable range, which indicates the better quality of water and soil of Gomal Zam dam. Therefore, from the result of the present study, it was concluded that GomalZam dam is good to support the survival and production of aquatic life, especially fish fauna. Furthermore, this dam wasalso found safe to be used for irrigation purpose, domestic water supply and other related water usage.

Key words: GomalZam dam Physicochemical characteristics Water Soil

INTRODUCTION absorption and emission [2]. Water is a vital natural resource, a fundamental require of all living beings and its Gomal Zam Dam is a multi-usagedam, situated at importance in daily life makes it crucial that Khajuri Kachin South Waziristan Agency of Federally physicochemical examinations can be conducted on Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) from about 100 water [3]. Quality of water is determined by various kilometers from Tank in Tank district of Khyber physicochemical and biological factors, as they may Pakhtunkwa province, Pakistan. The dam impounds the directly or indirectly affect the water quality and therefore Gomal River, a branch of the Indus River, where the Gomal its suitability for the production and distribution of fish River passes through a deep gorge ravine as shown in and other aquatic animals [4]. Figure 1. The purpose of the dam is irrigation, flood The equilibrium of an aquaculture system is also control, fish cultivation and hydroelectric power dependent on its soil properties. Soil properties have a generation [1]. dynamic role in endurance and growth of marine Fish is a cheap source of protein and an important organisms. The soil serves as a biological filter through cash crop in many parts of world. Water is the absorbing fish excretions, organic residues of feed and fundamental physical sustain in which fish can perform also controls the salinity, maintains pH of aquaculture their each life functions i.e., feeding, swimming, breeding, systems [5]. All living organisms have tolerable limits of

Corresponding Author: Zubia Masood, Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

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Fig. 1: Map showing Gomal Zam dam located in South Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gomal+Zam+Dam,+Pakistan/@32.0987218,69.8818118,17z/data=!3m1!4b 1!4m2!3m1!1s0x3928f7731ba5f791:0x349985bc0d641744. water and soil quality parameters in which they perform MATERIALS AND METHODS their function. An increase or decrease within these limits has unfavorable effects on their body functions [6, 7]. So, Physicochemical parameters of water were measured good water and soil quality is very essential for survival with the help of analytical procedures followed by Afshan and growth of fish. Hence, the main purpose of present et al. [8], while soil parameters were measured by study about the physicochemical parameters of water and following the method of Naila et al. [9]. Temperature was soil of Gomal Zam Dam was to further explore the measured with the help of thermometer and pH was assembly potential, because both physical and chemical measured with pH meter JENWAY model no.3505 factors can affect the efficiency, diversity and species calibrated with Buffer solution of 4 and 10 pH, while composition of any lentic or lotic environments. conductivity was analyzed by Conductivity Meter Jenco Model 103.Conductivity meter calibrated by 0.1 KCl MATERIALS AND METHODS (potassium chloride) solutions.

Study Area: The study was performed on Gomal Zam RESULTS AND DISSCUSSION dam, situatedin South Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Pakistan. The physiochemical parameters including color, odor, elasticity,temperature, pH, conductivity and total dissolve Sample Collection: Physicochemical analysis of water solids (TDS), of water and soil samples of Gomal Zam Dam and soil samples were collected from Gomal Zam Dam are shown in Tables 1, respectively. situated at Khajuri Kach in South Waziristan Agency at FATA, Pakistan (Figure 1). Sampling was done in the Color: The wavelength of visible light reflected by an month of June 2015. Both water and soil samples were object shows the color of that object. The water samples collected randomly from three different areas of the are generally colored due to the presence of inorganic dam.For water collection, acid sterilized plastics impurity, colloidal substance, aquatic growth and containers were utilized. While soils were put in tight disintegration of vegetation. In the present investigation, polyethylene bags and shifted in the laboratory of the the water colorwas found to be pale white, which is chemistry department of Kohat University of Science and found to besuitable for fish growth and survival Technology (KUST) of Kohat district, Pakistan for further [10]. Color of soil shows one quality of carbon analysis. concentration. Soil colour of the Gomal Zam dam

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Table 1: Physicochemical properties of water and soil samples of GomalZam dam Samples color odor elasticity Temperature (°C) pH Conductance (µs/ml) TDS (mg/100ml) Water Pale white odorless Non-elastic 49.5 7.47 114 300 Soil Black odorless Non-elastic 48.0 7.43 228 150 was black in color and the black color indicates that soil therefore, from the above observations, it was concluded is high in organic matter which is good for growth of that the pH of water and soil are suitable for fish growth many fishes. and survival.

Odor and Elasticity: An odor in water is due to variety of Conductivity: Conductivity is affected by the presence of conditions, sources and substances. Algae and decaying dissolved solids and it is the ability of water to pass an vegetation are the primary substances related to natural electrical current and the ability depends on the presence sources. Other sources can be domestic and industrial of ions, their total concentration, valence, mobility, wastes. In the present investigation, the odor of water and relative concentrations and temperature of measurement soil sample of Gomal Zam dam was odorless and non- [16]. Conductivity is the most important sign of fish elastic in nature. production. Conductivity of water depends on its ionic concentration, temperature and on variations of dissolved Temperature: The degree of hotness or coldness in the solids.Conductivity of freshwater is mostly ranged from body of a living organism (either in water or on land) is 50 to 1500 µs/ml [17]. In the present investigation, termed as temperature [11]. Fish is a cold blooded animal, theconductanceof water and soil samples were 114µs/ml its body temperature changes according to its atmosphere and 228µs/ml, hence, all these values lies within the affecting its physiology and metabolism and eventually desirable range for fish survival. affecting the production. High temperature results in increase rate of bio-chemical activity of the micro biota. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): Total dissolved solids According to Delince [12], 30-35°C is tolerable range to (TDS) can be defined as the quantity of all dissolved fish. In the present investigation,the water temperature material in water. TDS signifies the amount of total recorded for Gomal Zam dam is 49.5°C, which is above the dissolved salts. Salinity affects the quality of water which desirable range of fish growth.High water temperature has critical influence on aquatic biota and every kind of enhances the growth of microorganisms and may increase organism has a typical salinity range that it can tolerate. taste, odor, color and corrosion problems [13]. The soil Salinity of soil is essential for the fish strength and it temperature of Gomal Zam Dam was also 48°C. Thus, increases the vital slim coat of fishes. Normally TDS the result of present study revealed that such high ranges from 5 to 1000 mg/L [18]. In the present study, the temperature of dam was not suitable for fish growth and TDS values of water and soil sample were 300 and 150 survival, because high temperature can produce death in mg/100 ml, which were in the desirable range for fish fish. growth and survival. pH: pH is ageneral term used to express the strength of CONCLUSION the acid or alkaline condition of a solution. Acidity and alkalinity can be determined by the production of From the obtained results of the present hydrogen and hydroxyl ions. The pH of a marine investigation, it was concluded thatexcept temperature, environment is closely related to biological productivity parameters like pH, electric conductivity, Total and hence, pH can be caused by extreme primary DissolvedSolids were considered to be in safe and in production [14].The suitable pH range for fish survival is suitable limits, thence, good to support the survival and between 6.7 and 9.5, while ideal pH level is between 7.5 production of most aquatic life, especially fish and 8.5, however the level above and below this pH is fauna.Therefore, this dam can support only those fish stressful for the fishes [15]. In the present investigation, species that can tolerate the wide range of temperature for the pH value of the water sample was 7.47, hence, lies in their growth and survival. In addition, it was also the suitable pH range for fish growth. The pH value of soil observed that some aquatic and terrestrial fungi might be sample was 7.43. As, the optimum range required pH of introduced into the GomalZamDam to make it more soil for fish production is lies in between 6.5 to 7.3, productive.

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