Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

LIMNOLOGICAL FEATURES OF DAL LAKE OF KASHMIR VALLEY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE ANTHROPOGENIC PRESSURE ALONG ITS WATER SHED

Maqsooda Akhtar, Muni Parveen and Imtiyaz Qayoom

Abstract

A study was conducted on seasonal limnological characteristics of waters of Dal Lake of Kashmir valley. Besides temperature and other meteorological data, 13 limnological parameters were tested following standard methods at 4 sampling stations of the lake for one complete year from November 2012 – December 2013. The physico-chemical parameters (Temperature, Transparency, pH, Dissolved oxygen, Free CO2, Total alkalinity, Total hardness Conductivity, Chloride, Ammonical nitrogen, Nitrite nitrogen, Nitrate nitrogen, Total phosphorous etc.) showed distinct temporal or seasonal variations at all sites of the lake. The Air average temperature was 21.6±8.5; surface water temperature 18.7±8.2 Turbidity index (Secchidisc transparency) 1.15±0.58; Dissolved oxygen 5.9±2.77; pH 8.3±0.6; Conductivity average 368.2 ±188. The total Alkalinity was recorded 146±70.1; Free Carbon dioxide 17.5±8.6; Chloride content 29.3±17.1; Ammonical Nitrogen 414.3±339.6; Nitrate-Nitrogen 504.8±276.6; Nitrite-Nitrogen 52.9±21.3; Total Hardness 142.8±75.9 while as the average; Total phosphorous was 812.1±414.4. A significant correlation among various parameters depicted interdependence on each other and show fluctuation when any parameter marks any change. Almost all the calculated parameters indicate increase in pollution load mainly due to anthropogenic pressure and climatic factors that have resulted in eutrophic conditions of the lake, so immediate remedial measures need be taken for its protection from further deterioration.