Abstract

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF WATER QUALITY OF KUNDAPURA MANGROVE FOREST, KARNATAKA, INDIA

Vijaya Kumar K.M & Vijaya Kumara

Mangrove forest is a component of wetlands that has been recognized as one of the most productive ecosystem. Physico-chemical analysis of water quality of Kundapura mangrove forest, Karnataka, India, was studied at four different stations for a period of one year during April-2011 to March-2012. Atmospheric and surface water temperatures (◦C) varied from 24◦C to 31◦C and 22◦C to 29◦C respectively. Seasonal variations of different parameters investigated were as follows: pH (6.65 to 8.42), dissolved oxygen (3.25 to 11.78mg/l), biological oxygen demand (0 to 3.65mg/l), carbon dioxide (0.55 to 2.3mg/l), electrical conductivity (0.36 to 29.1ms-1), potassium (0.12 to 9.74mg/l), calcium (0.50 to 42.34 mg/l), magnesium (0.25 to 109.5mg/l), sodium (0.017 to 878.04mg/l), bicarbonate (1.40 to 6.23mg/l), carbonate (Nil), chloride (2.83 to 380.70mg/l), sodium absorption ratio (0.02 to 1300mg/l). A seasonal variation in these parameters was observed throughout the study period and monthly comparisons were made as monsoon, pre-monsoon and postmonsoon.

Published Date: 2013-06-03;