Effect of Fertilizer Use on the Distribution and Species Composition of Macrozoobenthos in Dal Lake, Kashmir

Zahoor Ahmad Khanday; G. Mustafa Shah; Ulfat Jan

Volume : VII, Issue : XI, November - 2018

Effect of Fertilizer Use on the Distribution and Species Composition of Macrozoobenthos in Dal Lake, Kashmir

Zahoor Ahmad Khanday, G. Mustafa Shah, Ulfat Jan

Abstract :

The distribution and species composition of macrozoobenthos in relation to the effect of fertilizer use was investigated for a period of one year. Based on the fertilizer use in the floating vegetable gardens and agricultural fields in the catchment area of the lake, the impact of fertilizers on the distribution and species composition of macrozoobenthos was carried out and the results of the fertilizer affected sites were compared with the fertilizer unaffected sites of the lake. During the study a total of 33 species of macrozoobenthic inverteates were recorded. The study revealed a higher abundance of oligocheates and insects at fertilizer affected sites and the mollusks were predominant at fertilizer unaffected sites of the lake