Ecological Productivity Studies of the Dominant Aquatic Macrophytes in Kapla Beel, Assam North East India

Abstract

The present research work was carried out to study the primary productivity of dominant aquaticmacrophytes with reference to water quality parameters during the year 2017 and 2018. Dominant aquaticplant species were found out based on IVI values. Among the dominant macrophytes, Eichhornia crassipesshowed the maximum productivity values (1134gm/m2) during the summer as well as the winter seasons(659gm/m2).While Hygroryzaaristata showed lowest productivity values (438gm/m2 and 376gm/m2) bothin summer and winter seasons respectively. The macrophytes showed positive correlation with temperature,pH and turbidity while they showed highly negative correlation with DO. Luxuriant growth of thesemacrophytes and their subsequent death and decay results the lower dissolved oxygen value of the waterbody. It is due to the fact that during decomposition of aquatic macrophytes, microorganisms uses most ofthe oxygen dissolved in water body. Therefore aquatic macrophytes can be used for indicators of waterquality and their presence may enhance the water quality due to their ability to absorb excess nutrientsfrom the water body.