Physico-Chemical Parameters
Physico-Chemical Parameters
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria
*Correspondence author
ABSTRACT
The seasonal variations in the physicochemical parameters of water reservoir in Kontagora, Nigeria
were studied from January to December, 2007. The physico-chemical parameters were determined
bimonthly. They include: temperature (using mercury in glass thermometer), transparency (using
Secchi-disc ), while Pye Unicam model 292 meter was used for pH and electrical conductivity
determination . Dissolved oxygen by modified Winkler-azide method, water hardness by Lind
method and Phosphate phosphorus by Denges method, total alkalinity by titration method, total
dissolved solid by Owen method, while Nitrate-Nitrogen was determined using Phenoldisulphonic
acid method. Water depth was determined using a calibrated measuring tape weighted at one end.
The rainy season mean values for water temperature, depth, pH, Nitrate-Nitrogen, were
significantly (P<0.05) higher than those for the dry season. However, for transparency,
conductivity, dissolved oxygen, hardness, alkalinity, phosphate-phosphorus and total dissolved
solid, the dry season mean value were significantly higher than the rainy season mean value. As in
most other African inland water bodies, there was seasonal variation in the physicochemical
parameters evaluated in this study. The torrential rains of the reservoir environment, the
characteristic trade winds of the dry season, effect of deforestation, fertilizer application,
herbicides, insecticide and other chemical factors might have contributed to the fluctuations of
some of the physicochemical parameters determined in the reservoir.
Keywords: Kontagora reservoir, physicochemical parameters, Seasonal, Environment.
INTRODUCTION
The general desire to protect fresh water fisheries
has led to an expansion of research into their water
quality
requirements,
in
terms
of
their
physicochemical parameters such pH, temperature,
dissolve oxygen, transparency, total alkalinity, total
hardness, electrical conductivity, total dissolved
matter, e.t.c. These factors serve as a basis for the
richness or otherwise biological productivity of any
aquatic environment (Imevbore, 1970). The
physical and chemical properties of water
immensely influenced its uses, the distribution and
richness of the biota (Courtney and Clement, 1998;
Unanam and Akpan, 2006). Several of these
physicochemical parameters have been studied on
large man-made lakes in Northern Nigeria by
Adeniji and Ita (1977) and Adeniji (1981). Other
works on physicochemical parameters include that
of Balarabe (1989), on Makwaye Lake, Zaria, Oniye
et al., (2002),on Zaria Dam, Ugumba and Ugwumba
(1993), on Awba Lake in Ibadan, Kolo and Oladimeji
(2004), studied water quality and some nutrient
levels in Shiroro Lake, Niger State.
Kontagora Reservoir was created with
major objective of providing domestic water to
Kontagora town and its environment, however,
fishing and irrigation have become other
established uses of the reservoir. This study was
carried out to determine some physicochemical
parameters of Kontagora reservoir in relation to
water quality requirement for domestic purpose
64
Fig.
1:
65
Table 1: ANOVA showing seasonal variations of physico-chemical parameters at the sampling stations of Kontagora
Sources of
variation
Treatment
(trt)
Station
Season
Station X
Season
Error
Reservoir.
3.90ns
30.33*
25.18**
908.41*
0.05ns
366.13*
3.12*
614.12*
1486.93**
7.99*
4.96ns
Total
Dissolved
Solid
(ppm)
73.05*
4
1
4
1.90ns
18.68*
2.18ns
0.72ns
256.81**
3.33ns
37.49**
57.92**
4.69*
55.40ns
7717.08*
592.25ns
0.06ns
0.23*
0.01ns
48.63ns
2812.40**
72.08*
0.14ns
23.3**
1.05*
79.86ns
4692.01**
128.92*
45.35ns
13132.81**
17.05ns
1.95ns
59.21*
1.24ns
5.0ns
6.77*
4.46ns
27.99*
501.33**
11.04*
170
5.79
7.73
1.43
513.24
0.09
106.58
0.98
132.25
112.16
3.27
9.33
24.64
Df
Air
Temp.
o
C
Water
Temp. oC
Depth
(m)
Transparency
(m)
pH
Conductivity
(s)
Dissolved
Oxygen
(mg/l)
Hardness
(mg/l)
Alkalinity
(mg/l)
PO4-P
(mg/l)
NO3-N
(mg
/l)
Air
Temp.
( oC )
29.96b
30.37a
Water
Temp.
( oC )
25.74b
27.65a
Depth
(m)
Transpa
rency(m)
pH
6.94b
7.74a
12.46a
5.26b
7.06a
7.15a
Physico-Chemical Parameters
Hardness
Conductivity
Dissolved
(mg/l)
(s)
oxygen
(mg/l)
86.41a
4.70a
56.07a
84.05b
4.42b
48.80b
Alkalinity
(mg/l)
PO4-P
(mg /l)
NO3-N
(mg /l)
Total
Dissolved
Solid (ppm)
53.38a
34.99b
6.86a
5.53b
4.74b
5.21a
43.19a
42.59b
Means with the same letters in each column are not significantly different P0.05
Table 3: Mean values of the physico chemical parameters at five sampling stations of Kontagora reservoir, Niger State,
(January December, 2007)
Sampling
Stations
Tunga
Hajiya
Loko
Kamboli
Tunga kawo
Jantaye
Loko Kuka
Air
Temp.
(oc)
30.42a
Water
Temp.
(oc)
26.33a
Depth
(m)
29.83a
30.31a
30.03a
30.08a
pH
Physico-Chemical Parameters
Hardness
Conductivity
Dissolved
(mg/l)
(s)
oxygen
(mg/l)
86.92a
4.65a
53.17a
8.78a
Transpa
rency
(m)
9.02b
7.14a
26.67a
7.51b
8.07bc
7.10a
84.51b
4.53a
26.67a
26.47a
26.56a
7.31c
6.75d
6.03e
7.33c
10.64a
8.58bc
7.12a
7.09a
7.04a
85.92ab
84.01b
85.76ab
4.61a
4.62a
4.51a
Means with the same letters in each column are not significantly different P0.05
66
Nigeria
Alkalinity
(mg/l)
PO4-P
(mg/l)
NO3-N
(mg/l)
Total
Dissolved
Solid (ppm)
43.26a
6.37ab
5.15a
43.64a
53.67a
43.67a
6.39ab
4.67a
42.23bc
55a
51a
52.63a
43.46a
41.31b
41.57b
5.97b
6.22ab
6.59a
4.73a
5.58a
4.92a
43.13ab
41.83c
43.86a
DISCUSSION
There are some marked variations in the physicochemical parameters observed for the sampling
stations and the seasons. Water temperature
range for the entire reservoir, compares well with
the ranges recorded for other tropical Lakes
(Adebisi, 1981; Ovie and Adeniji, 1993). Aquatic
organisms (from microorganisms to fish) depend
on certain temperature range for optimal growth
(APHA, 1992). The normal range to which fish is
adapted in the tropics is between 80C and 30C
(Alabaster and Lloyd, 1980). The low water
temperature of Kontagora reservoir during the dry
season could be as a result of seasonal changes in
air temperatures associated with the cool dry
North-East trade winds (Harmattan). Oladimeji
and Wade (1984), and Balarabe (1989), also
observed low water temperature in Makwaye
Lake, near Zaria, during this period. Kolo .and
Oladimeji (2004), made similar findings in Shiroro
dam. The water temperature range for Kontagora
reservoir is within the range 6f 100C - 500C for
river and dam water meant for domestic purposes,
and for fish culture in tropical waters (WHO, 1984;
Huet, 1977).
The higher dry season secchi-disc
transparency mean value compared to that of the
rainy season could be due to absence of
floodwater, surface run-offs and settling effect of
suspended materials that followed the cessation of
rainfall. Kemdirim (1990), reported similar
observations . Low secchi-disc transparency
recorded during rainy season, agrees with the
findings of Wade (1985), who observed that onset
of rain decreased the secchi-disc visibility in two
mine
lakes
around
Jos,
Nigeria.
Lower
transparency recorded during rainy season when
there was turbulence and high turbidity, has a
corresponding low primary productivity, because
turbidity reduces the amount of light penetration,
which in turn reduces photosynthesis and hence
primary productivity (USEPA, 1991; APHA, 1992).
The hydrogen ion concentration (pH) was
near neutral throughout both season, and it was
within the range for inland waters (pH6.5 - 8.5), as
reported by Antoine and AI-Saadi (1982). Boyd
and Lichtkoppler (1979), reported pH range of
6.09 - 8.45 as being ideal for supporting aquatic
life including fish. Thus, the pH range obtained in
this study is within the acceptable level of 6.0 to
8.5 for culturing tropical fish species (Huett, 1977)
and, for the recommended levels for drinking
water (WHO, 1984). Federal Environmental
protection Agency (FEPA) recommended pH 6.58.0 for drinking and 6.0-9.0 for aquatic life.
Higher dry season conductivity value
obtained could be attributed to concentration
effect as a result of reduced water volume from
their main tributary channels. Ovie and Adeniji
(1993), as well as, Kolo and Oladimeji (2004),
observed a similar trend for Shiroro lake.
The dissolved oxygen in the reservoir was
67
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