STUDY OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARCTERISTICS OF ADO-EKITI RESERVOIR

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Ogidan, I. M., and Ugwumba, A. A. A.

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT Ado-Ekiti Reservoir was sampled between May, 2002 and July, 2004 for physico-chemical studies. Temperature ranged from 23.50 30.04C (mean SD: 27.76 1.63C), pH ranged from 5.63 9.82 (mean SD: 8.39 1.27), dissolved oxygen ranged from 4.08 8.98 mg/l (mean SD: 5.73 1.47 mg/l), alkalinity ranged from 45.23 19.44 CaCO3/l (mean SD: 45.23 19.44CaCO3/l ), transparency ranged from 0.51 1.54 m (mean SD : 0.10 0.26 m), biochemical oxygen demand ranged from 0.93 3.50mg/l (mean SD : 1.92 0.64) and free carbon dioxide ranged from 16.50 47.50 ppm (mean SD: 24.62 8.50 ppm). pH values were neutral through the year, temperature values were inversely proportional to the dissolved oxygen levels while the free carbon values also share this same inverse relationship with pH. The physico-chemistry of Ado-Ekiti Reservoir exhibited insignificant variations by the uniformity in water quality conditions. This suggests that the reservoir water is good for aquaculture.

INTRODUCTION In Nigeria, many man made reservoirs have been put to many uses. Lakes and reservoirs around the globe are critical components in the ecological system. They have been used as sources of drinking water, as a means to control river flood, to generate electricity, to help in irrigation, enhancement of fisheries and for recreational purposes. Economic development and population growth require stable water and hydroelectric power supplies. However, because of the relative scarcity of natural lakes, it will be expected that tropical countries will construct reservoirs in parallel with their economic development, thereby making reservoirs the predominant lake type in many regions (Lewis, 2000). Fresh water is a finite resource, essential for agriculture, industry and even human existence, without fresh water of adequate quantity and quality, sustainable development will not be possible (Kumar, 1997). Majority of water available on the earth is saline in nature; only small quantity exists as freshwater (Mahima, 2007). The use of abiotic factor to assess the fishery potential of water bodies in developing countries is still scanty, and where such data are available, they are not properly applied for management purposes, in the development of indigenous fisheries. The knowledge of the physico-chemical characteristic of a water body is therefore, valuable in determining its productivity. It serves as the basis for considering the richness or otherwise, the biological productivity of an aquatic environment. (Imevbore, 1970). Ryder et. al. (1974) and Jenkins (1982) classified some lakes based on their trophic status and potential fishery production related to abiotic factors. Attempt by Noble (1980) to explain further, the variations in fish production in both lakes and reservoirs, indicated that the mean depth and total dissolved solids are principal factors that determined fish production and

distribution. Fish growth largely depends on the quality of the culture medium. Physicochemical parameters are known to affect the biotic components of any aquatic environment in various ways (Ugwumba and Ugwumba, 1993). Many limnological studies of a comprehensive nature have been undertaken in Nigerian lakes (Holden and Green, 1960; Imevbore, 1967; Egborge, 1971, 1972, 1974; Hassan, 1974; Adebisi, 1981, 1989, Mbagwu, 1993)

MATERIALS AND METHODS Study area The town of Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti central local Government Area of Ekiti state is located between latitude 7031' and 7049' North of the equator and longitude 507' and 50 27' East of the Greenwich Meridian. It is bounded in North by Ido-Osi and Oye Local Government Areas, in the West by Ijero and Ekiti-south West, Ikere and Emure-Ise-Oru Local Government Areas. Ado Ekiti has a planimetric area of about 84km2 (Ebisemiju, 1989). Sampling Sampling of surface water for these physico-chemical parameters was done from May, 2002 through July, 2004 with corked specimen bottles (for later titration in the laboratory) except for other parameters (temperature, transparency and pH) that were determined in-situ and immediately on the field. The parameters determined include temperature, transparency, pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), alkalinity and free carbon dioxide. Determination of the physico-chemical characteristics Water temperature was measured each month in-situ using mercury in glass thermometer, calibrated in degree centigrade, pH with pH meter (Jenway Model 9060). A 15cm diameter

secchi disc was used to determine the transparency in-situ. The modified Winkler-azide method (Lind, 1979 and APHA, 1985) was used to determine dissolved oxygen (DO) while total alkalinity was determined by using standard method of Boyd (1979) and APHA (1992). Biochemical Oxygen demand was determined after 5days incubation while free carbon dioxide was measured spectrophotometrically following the procedures of APHA (1985). Statistical Analysis Values were expressed as Means SD. The total cumulative values for each parameter through the sampling period were demonstrated by a chart using Microsoft Excel.

RESULTS The results of the physical and chemical characteristics of the reservoir are presented in Table 1 and 2. Table 1 shows the results of the physico-chemical parameters measured for each month through out the study period. Table 2 shows the results of the parameters expressed as mean values and standard deviation for each year and the corresponding cumulative values expressed as mean values, standard deviation and range. The water temperature range was 23.50 30.04C, the lowest occurring in December, 2002 and the highest in March, 2004 with cumulative value of 27.76 1.63C. The pH of the reservoir was neutral through out the year (pH 5.63 9.82) (Table 1). The transparency range was 0.51 1.54m with a cumulative of 0.10 0.26m through the sampling period (Table 2). Dissolved Oxygen concentration range was 4.08 8.98mg/l (Table 1), with the highest value in December, 2002 and lowest in September, 2003. Biological Oxygen demand range was 0.93 3.50mg/l with a cumulative of 1.92 0.64mg/l (Table 2) through the sampling period. Maximum alkalinity value was recorded in September, 2003 (100.88CaCO3/l) while the minimum value (22 CaCO3/l) in May, 2002 (Table 1). Free carbon was not tested for until August, 2003 and a maximum value of 47.50 ppm was recorded in May, 2004 with minimum value of 16.50 in October, 2003. (Table 1), bringing the cumulative mean through the sampling period to be 24.62 8.50 ppm.

Table 1: Physico-chemical parameters measured at Ado-Ekiti Reservoir between May, 2002 and July, 2004.
Month/Yr Temperature (C) May, 2002 28.1 June 28.0 July 26.8 August 26.4 September 25.9 October 27.6 November 29.5 December 23.5 January, 2003 August September October November December January, 2004 February March April May June July 27.60 27.00 26.90 29.20 29.40 29.80 28.00 28.90 30.04 29.20 28.10 27.90 25.20 Transparency (m) 0.87 0.78 0.67 0.82 0.51 0.71 1.17 1.20 1.24 1.06 0.98 1.06 1.02 1.18 1.43 1.54 1.09 1.08 0.83 0.82 0.75 Diss. O2 (mg/l) 4.18 5.14 5.55 6.29 4.22 5.88 8.50 8.98 7.98 4.18 4.08 7.03 4.55 4.89 6.63 6.26 6.13 6.00 4.43 5.25 4.19 pH * 7.50 6.63 7.97 6.98 7.40 7.13 * 8.00 9.22 9.01 9.82 9.64 9.66 9.78 9.50 9.29 8.93 8.99 5.63 * Bioch. O2 (BOD) (mg/l) 1.24 2.62 2.16 2.04 1.77 1.65 1.36 3.50 2.18 1.05 1.38 2.83 2.25 2.30 2.30 1.93 2.36 0.93 1.40 1.95 1.16 Alkalinity Free Carbon (CaCo3/l) (ppm) 22 * 46.10 * 35.00 * 23.90 * 45.10 * 66.40 * 33.00 * 31.00 * 30.50 41.00 100.88 49.30 74.00 72.00 53.75 38.30 46.13 46.75 38.63 29.50 26.50 * 22.30 25.30 16.50 21.50 22.00 19.00 22.30 25.00 24.75 47.50 * *

Table 2: Mean values Parameter Temperature Transparency pH Diss. Oxygen BOD Alkalinity Free Carbon

SD of the physico-chemical parameters tested for with the range of values 2003 (mean SD) 28.32 1.30     


2002 (mean SD)      

2004 (mean SD) 28.19 1.53 1.08 0.31 8.69 1.53 5.56 0.95 1.72 0.56 39.94 9.74 27.71 11.32

CUMULATIVE (mean SD) 27.76 1.63 0.10 0.26 8.39 1.27   

 

RANGE Min Max        



DISCUSSION The physico-chemical parameters in water bodies vary in composition and concentration on a seasonal, diurnal or even hourly basis. These variations may be related to patterns of water use and rainfall (Abel, 1996; Ayoade et. al., 2006). The patterns of spatial distribution of physicochemical parameters measured for the reservoir were generally similar except for alkalinity which showed a sharp, major difference in September, 2003. Water temperature range for the reservoir compares well within those recorded for other tropical lakes (Adebisi, 1981; Ovie and Adeniji, 1993; Adakole et. al., 2003). Temperature is one of the most important factors in the aquatic environment. (Singh and Mathur, 2005). The normal range to which fish is adapted in the tropics is between 8C and 30C (Alabaster and Lloyd, 1982). The water temperature range of 23.5 30.04C for Ado-Ekiti reservoir is within the range of 10C and 50C for rivers

and dam water meant for domestic purposes and for fish culture in tropical waters (WHO, 1984; Huet, 1977). Temperature has no direct effect on aquatic life up to 39C in the river (Ghose and Basu, 1968). Joshi and Singh (2001) observed that solubility of oxygen in the water increases when water temperature decreases. The highest dissolved oxygen measured (8.98mg/l) in the Ado-Ekiti reservoir corresponds with the period of lowest temperature value (23.5C). According to Adeniji (1973) and Ibe (1993), the amount of dissolved oxygen in water is not constant but fluctuates, with temperature, depth, wind and amount of biological activities such as degradation. The neutral hydrogen ion concentration (pH) range (5.63 9.82), obtained through out the sampling period is adequate for fish production and within the range recommended by Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), 6.0 9.0 for aquatic life. The highest pH values were

recorded during the dry season months due to utilization of bicarbonate and carbonate buffer system (Bohra, 1976) while the low pH values in the rainy season months was because of influence of fresh water influx, dilution of lake, low temperature and organic matter decomposition. (Zingde et. al., 1987). This suggests that the reservoir water is good for fish production. Accumulation of free carbon dioxide due to little photosynthetic activities of phytoplankton will lower the pH value of the water while intense photosynthetic activities of phytoplankton will reduce the free carbon dioxide content resulting in increased pH values (Egborge, 1994; Gupta and Gupta, 2006). Correspondingly, the periods of highest pH values (maximum of 9.82) gave the lowest free carbon value (16.50 ppm) and vice versa.

Winger (1981) reported that land use in the watershed strongly influences the amount of nutrients that enter receiving waters. Hynes (1975) identified substantial amount of energy input into water, as coming from allochtonous organic input. Therefore, agricultural practice in the catchment areas is recommended as a means of increasing the organic matter content and carbon dioxide of the reservoir. The mean alkalinity measured (45.23 19.44 CaCO3/l) fall within the range documented by Moyle (1946) and Boyd (1981) for natural waters. The alkalinity is higher in the dry season months. Hem (1970) gave a range of 75 200ppm of CaCO3, as adequate buffering capacity for productive warm water streams. This situation may be possibly related to the nature of bedrock and rocks of the catchment area (Ufodike et. al., 2001). According to Shoup (1974), alkalinity reflects the geochemistry of the watershed. The significantly higher transparency recorded during the wet season compared to the dry season months may be due to heavy rainfall leading to an increase in phytoplankton abundance and decay of organic matter in suspension in addition to surface runoff from adjacent streams carrying heavy sand and silt into the water. Lewis (1978) opined that phytoplankton biomass influences water transparency. The adverse effects of turbidity on freshwaters include decreased penetration of light hence reduced primary and secondary production, adsorptions of nutrient elements to suspended materials making them unavailable for plankton production, oxygen deficiency, clogging of filter feeding apparatus and digestive organs of planktonic organisms and may greatly affect the hatching of larvae (Gupta and Gupta, 2006). The physico-chemical characteristics, also form the foregoing have been observed to play a significant role in determining the amount of fish produced in a water body. It therefore, becomes, necessary to study, monitor and control these parameters in order to get maximum productivity from a water body.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT I am grateful to Dr. (Mrs.) Ugwumba for using her good office to provide necessary support and assistance during the study period.

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