Author(s):

Rouf Ahmad Bhat, Shafiq-ur-Rehman, Mohammad Aneesul Mehmood, Moonisa Aslam Dervash, Nighat Mushtaq, Javed Iqbal Ahmad Bhat and Gowhar Hamid Dar

Abstract: Lake water receives substantial concentration of nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) due to growing anthropogenic pressure. Current status and trend of nutrients in Dal Lake were investigated in this study. The results showed that highest concentration of N-NO3 (1.128 mg/L) at Shalimar Ghat in summer and lowest (0.078mg/L) was at Dugg Park in autumn. The overall season wise N-NO3 concentration during the entire investigation was determined 0.558 mg/L in summer and 0.180 mg/L in autumn respectively. The highest 0.075 mg/L phosphates (PO4-3) were found at Shalimar Ghat in summer and lowest 0.011 mg/L at Dugg Park in autumn. The overall season wise PO4-3 was found maximum (0.047 mg/L) in summer and minimum (0.030 mg/L) in autumn. The concentration of N-NO3 and PO4-3 with respect to sites and seasons were observed statistically significant at (p≤ 0.05) confidence limit. In general, the nutrient concentration was found highest at Shalimar Ghat followed by Ashai Bagh Bridge and least at Dugg Park. Currently lake is in mesotrophic condition; however the growing concentration of these nutrients into the lake due to anthropogenic activities could favour eutrophic condition.

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