Study of Key Parameters of Water of Vatrak Riverbed of Kheda District Gujarat and Its Impact on Floristic Diversity

The Vatrak river is a tributary of the Sabarmati River. It flows for around 243 km in state of Gujarat. Origin of Vatrak river is in hills of Dungarpur, Rajasthan. It enters into Gujarat near village Moydi which is located in Meghraj Taluka of Aravali district. Vatrak flows parallel to Mahi River for 29 km in Rajasthan before entering Gujarat. Direction of the Vatrak river is South-west. It is joined by Mazum river on the border of Kheda District. Vatrak is joined by river Shedhi and Meshwo near Kheda Town. Vatrak finally merge with Sabarmati River at Vautha near Dholka. Maximum length of Vatrak river is located in the Kheda District of Gujarat. This study covers ecological study of surrounding area of Vatrak riverbed. Route of Vatrak river in Kheda district passes through various talukas like Kapadvanj, Kathlal, Mehmdabad, Kheda and Matar. The present study is aimed to analyze the quality of water using certain physio-chemical parameters. These parameters help in understanding the ecology of river system and level of various pollution. Metallic pollution is one of the most serious global problems in the modern time. It is now observed that the pollution of river ecosystem is mainly a function of biologically available metallic fraction rather than the total amount of metal present in water or in sediments. In highly dynamic environment of a river system hydrodynamical, chemical, and biological factors vary greatly with different time scale and along the length of river. Another aim of the study is to analyze the sediments characteristics. Phytoplankton is the most elementary component in the food chain of any aquatic ecosystem. The aquatic food chain is initiated by phytoplankton, which serve as an indicator of good water quality. Phyisico- chemical properties of water greatly affects the productivity of phytoplankton thus affects the flora-fauna species composition, biomass, productivity etc.