Limnology and productivity status in wetlands (Beels) of 24- South Parganas district, West Bengal

Abstract

The environmental parameters such as water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, transparency, free carbon dioxide and plankton biomass were monitored during the present study period between July, 2011 and June, 2012 from Bhara Haripota beel in Bhamanghata, South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Carp culture was practised in such beels and the physico-chemical parameters of water were found to be suitable for the growth of aquatic organisms. The water temperature varied from 20.6 °C to 31.0 °C, pH from 7.2 to 8.2, dissolved oxygen from 4.18 to 5.76 mg l-1, transparency from 18.6 to 26.5 cm and free carbon-dioxide from 0.46 to 1.52 mg l-1. The phytoplankton densities ranged from 1957 to 3652 organisms l-1 and zooplankton from 589 to 954 organisms l-1. The present study indicates that the selected wetland is moderately productive in aspects of limnology parameters and suitable for commercial aquaculture.