Physico-Chemical limnology of Dal Lake

The valley of Kashmir abounds in large number of fresh water bodies including lakes, rivers and springs which are contaminated with different kinds of pollutants resulting from increasing population, urbanization and also due to various other factors. The present study was done at 4 stations in the Dal Lake viz., Telbal Nallah, Hazratbal basin, Gagribal basin and Nigeen basin. The water samples collected during the study period from May, 2010 to April, 2011 showed that water temperature was almost same at all the stations. Transparency values were higher in winter. Water showed pH above 7.5 at all the stations throughout the working period. Alkalinity was also same at all stations. Chloride and conductivity were higher at site IV (Gagribal). Nitrogenous compounds like ammonia, nitrate were higher in the Gagribal basin. Total phosphorus also showed the similar trend.