Physico-chemical assessment of wetland ecosystems of Madhepura, Bihar

Wetlands are areas of land that are either covered by water or drenched with water. This study assesses the physico-chemical studies of ecosystem of Madhepura through field investigations. Wetlands are amongst the most productive ecosystems on the Earth and provide many important services to human society. However, they are also ecologically sensitive and adaptive systems. Wetlands exhibit enormous diversity according to their genesis, geographical location, water regime and chemistry, dominant species, and soil and sediment characteristics. This study reveals the parameters of water quality such as pH, transparency, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, magnesium, calcium, potassium, nitrate and water discharge. pH value was between 6.6-8.5, TDS ranges from 101.57 - 18.7 mg/l whereas EC ranges from 192.13 - 38.4 µS, water discharge very high during monsoon (347.4 mm/day). These parameters play an important role in the streams across seasons. Regular monitoring of streams is necessary to maintain and protect these wetland ecosystems.