Physicochemical Analysis of Water and Soil of Barganat dam in North Waziristan Agency of FATA, Pakistan, With Special Reference To Their Influence on Fish Growth.

Abstract

A study was conducted to examine the physicochemical parameters of water and soil of Barganat
Dam in North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Pakistan for observing their
impact on fish growth and survival. The results of the present study revealed that each selected
physicochemical parameter was found to be in the permissible range for fish growth and survival, except
temperature that waslaid above the tolerable range.Hence, the present study will provides useful assistance
to physicochemical analysis of water and soil of Barganat dam and their impact on the fish growth and survival.
Furthermore, such information will also be valuablein future for the fish culturists to further improve the
ecological setup necessary for growing fish.

Full text

Global Veterinaria 14 (5): 738-741, 2015
ISSN 1992-6197
© IDOSI Publications, 2015
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2015.14.05.951
Corresponding Author: Zubia Masood, Department of Zoology, University of Karachi,
Karachi-75270, Pakistan.
738
Physicochemical Analysis of Water and Soil of Barganat dam in
North Waziristan Agency of FATA, Pakistan, With Special
Reference To Their Influence on Fish Growth
Hameed-Ur-Rehman, Mussarat Bibi, Zubia Masood, Nelofer Jamil, Hina Masood, Fariha Mengal,
1 2 3 452
Nighat Din, Humera Zahid, Saima Durrani, Huma Tareen, Tariq Aziz and AsimUllah
3 2 2 4 6 7
Department of Chemistry, Kohat University of Science and Technology,
1
Kohat District, KPK Province, Pakistan
Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
2
Department of Zoology, SardarBahadur Khan Women University, Quetta, Pakistan
3
Department of Chemistry, SardarBahadur Khan Women University, Quetta, Pakistan
4
Department of Geography, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
5
Department of Chemistry, Hazara University,Mansehra District, KPK, Pakistan
6
Department of zoology, kohat university of science and technology, Kohat district, KPK, Pakistan
7
Abstract: A study was conducted to examine the physicochemical parameters of water and soil of Barganat
Dam in North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Pakistan for observing their
impact on fish growth and survival. The results of the present study revealed that each selected
physicochemical parameter was found to be in the permissible range for fish growth and survival, except
temperature that waslaid above the tolerable range.Hence, the present study will provides useful assistance
to physicochemical analysis of water and soil of Barganat dam and their impact on the fish growth and survival.
Furthermore, such information will also be valuablein future for the fish culturists to further improve the
ecological setup necessary for growing fish.
Key words: Physicochemical characteristics of water and soil Barganat dam North Waziristan Agency of
FATA Fish growth
INTRODUCTION Fish populations are extremely reliant upon the
Barganat Dam is a small dam, which is situated in aquatic environment which supports their biological
North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered functions [1]. Physicochemical properties of water
Tribal Areas (FATA), Pakistan, as shown in Figure 1, play an important role in the maintenance of healthy
respectively. The purpose of the dam is irrigation, flood aquatic ecosystem [2]. Fish are driven by their
control and fish cultivation. physicochemical environment to areas that are
The most diverse ecology in the world is aquatic physiologically optimal [3].
ecology where water is the most important resource for all Several studies have been conducted on the
aquatic life and is essential for the growth and survival of physicochemical analysis of water with respect to their
organisms.Water is also needed for household, irrigation, effect on fish survival few are as follows.Marshall and
industrial, agricultural and fishery production. Therefore, Elliot [4] observed important relation between fish species
for each necessity, physicochemical analysis of water is and the effect of water temperature, salinity, dissolved
quite necessary because impure water or polluted water oxygen on their survival. Blaber and Blaber [5] noted the
resources couldn’tbe used for any purpose. Thence, its correlation of productive feeding areas of fish
analytical study suggests the appropriate condition for withturbidity of water. Other studies have determined
fishery, agriculture and other purposes. that when pH level of water approaches 9.06 to 10.0
variations of physicochemical characteristics of their

Global Veterinaria, 14 (5): 738-741, 2015
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Fig. 1: Map showing Barganat dam located in North Waziristan Agency, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan
than fish will move away from alkaline waters. Therefore, pH Value: To determination the pH of water and soil
present study was conducted for assessing the quality of
water and soil of Barganat dam for fish growth and
survival by using some selected physicochemical
properties. The present study will provide useful
information for monitoring the changes in the water and
soil quality as a result of the dam’s natural dynamics over
time.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Area: The present study was performed on
Barganat Dam, situated in North Waziristan Agency of
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Pakistan.
Sampling: Sampling was done one time on 5 June 2015.
th
Four samples of water and soil were collected randomly
from four different locations at Barganatdam. Water
samples were collected in acid cleaned plastics containers,
while soils were collected nearer the bottom of dam and
then placed in tight polyethylene bags for further analysis
by using the methodology followed Rehman et al. [6] as
follows;
Temperature Measurement: In laboratory, Thermometer
was used for measuring the temperature. The
Thermometer was dipped directly in all the samples and
temperature values were recorded when mercury becomes
constant at a point.
samples, pH meter JENWAY model no.3505 was used by
preparing buffer solution of pH 4.0 and 8.0, respectively.
The pH electrode is placed inside the beakers where the
samples are collected and the constant values are
recorded.
Determination of Electric Conductivity (EC): For the
determination of EC of water and soil
samples,Conductivity meter JENWAY model no.4520 was
utilized. Conductivity meter was calibrated by 0.1 KCl
(potassium chloride) solutions and washed with distal
water and dried. Than electrode was dipped in the
samples and checked the conductivity.
Determination ofTotal Dissolve Solids (TDS): TDS Meter
is used to determine TDS of samples, the electrode of TDS
Meter was washed with the help of distilled water, than
electrode was dipped in the samples and checked the TDS
and noted down the readings.
RESULTS AND DISSCUSSION
The results of physiochemical parameters including
color, odor, elasticity,temperature, pH, conductivity and
Total Dissolve Solids (TDS) of water and soil samples of
Barganat Damare recorded in Table 1, respectively.
Color: Greenish, bluish green or brown greenish color
of water in any aquatic environment indicates the
presence ofplanktonsin it. All these colors of water had

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740
Table 1: Physicochemical properties of water and soil samples of Barganatdam
Samples color odor elasticity Temperature (°C) pH Conductance (µs/ml) TDS (mg/100ml)
Water Colorless odorless Non-elastic 38 7.98 39 200
Soil Red yellow odorless Non-elastic 39.5 8.14 43 300
been found to been excellent for fish growth and survival study, the pH of water measured in the dam was 7.98,
[7]. The Color pattern of soil might be the results from while soil pH was 8.14, which are considered suitable for
both chemical and biological processes.Yellow or red soil fisheries.
indicates the occurrence of iron oxides, while dark brown
or black color reveals that the soil contain high organic Electrical Conductivity (EC): Electrical conductivity is the
matter content. The presence of specific minerals can also ability of an aqueous solution to carry electric current.
affect the soil color. Furthermore, manganese oxide causes Fish are very sensitive to conductivity,since conductivity
a black color, glauconite makes the soil green, while is strictly related to the amount of osmotic pressure
calcite can make soil appearance white [8].But in present exerted on their cellular membranes.Conductivity of
study, the water was colorless, while soil was red freshwater mostly lies between 50 to 1500 µs/ml [13]. In
yellowish in color that indicates the presence of iron oxide present study, the conductance of water and soil sample
in soil as shown inTable 1, respectively. were 39 µs/ml and 43 µs/ml, which revealed that both of
Odor and Elasticity: An odor in water is due to various if the fish is tolerable than any increase or decrease in
sources such as, sewage, decomposing vegetation and conductivity value will not affect fish severely.
microbial activity. Odor affects the aesthetics of
recreational water and the taste of fish [9]. In present Total Dissolved Solids: Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) is
study the water and soil were odorless and non-elastic in quantity of inorganic salts, organic matter and other
nature. dissolved ingredients in water.TDS indicates the broad
Temperature: Temperature is the most important water, which later has critical influence on aquatic biota
physical factor affecting the metabolic rate of fish and is and every kind of organism has a typical salinity range
also an important water quality attributes in that it can tolerate. Normally, TDS ranged from 5 to 1000
aquaculture. The optimum temperature required for mg/L is considering as suitable range for fish growth [14].
survival and growth of fishes is between 26 to 32°C [10], In present study, the TDS of water obtained from
therefore, any changes in temperature can produce critical Barganat dam was 200mg/l and TDS of soil measured was
impact for fish growth and survival. Temperature controls 300mg/l, thence were seen in the desirable range and
the reaction rate of chemicals, solubility of gases in water suitable for fish growth and survival.
and the toxicity of ammonia and of chemotherapeutics to
fish [11]. In the present study, the temperature of water CONCLUSION
was 38°C, while soil temperature was 39.5°C. Thus from
theobtained results of present study, it was concluded From theobtained resultsof the present study it was
that temperature of dam was not within the maximal rate concluded that the physicochemical parameters like pH,
for growth of fishes, thence, not suitable for life of fish conductivity, TDSof both water and soil obtained from
fauna. the Barganat Dam of North Waziristan Agency were
Hydrogen Ion Concentration (pH): pH is one of the most except temperature of this dam thatwas found to be above
important water quality parameters. Extremes of pH can the tolerable range of fishes. Therefore, thepresent
affect the tastiness of water but the acidic effect on studywill provides useful assistance about the
distribution systems is a more critical problem.The effect physicochemical analysis of water and soil of
of pH on fish is also an important parameter and values Barganatdam and their impact on the fish fauna.
which increasingly go away from the normally found Furthermore, such information will also be valuable for the
values will have a more noticeable effect on fish, leading fish culturistsin future toimprove the ecological setup
ultimately to death [11]. The optimum range of pH of water necessary for the growth of various fish species found in
for fishes was lies between 6.5 to 9.5 [12]. In the present this dam.
these values are also desirable for fish survival, because
nature of salinity of water. TDS canaffect the quality of
found within suitable range forfish growth and survival,

Global Veterinaria, 14 (5): 738-741, 2015
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