Seasonal variations in oxidative stress in Labeo rohita in ponds of Sri Muktsar Sahib district of Punjab, India

S ri Muktsar Sahib is an agriculturally dominant district located in the southwestern part of Punjab.A study by Sidhu and Singh (2021) found that groundwater collected from various villages in the district was unsafe for drinking and unfit for human consumption.Groundwater quality is deteriorating due to contamination from pathogenic agents, chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, water disinfectants, and leaching from industrial and agricultural activities, as well as atmospheric deposition.The excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers, coupled with poor groundwater quality, are considered significant contributors to the high incidence of diseases, including cancer, in Muktsar's villages (Kamboj et al., 2015).Kaur and Kaur (2016) reported that among all districts in Punjab, Muktsar had the highest cancer prevalence (136.3 per lakh) and cancer-related deaths (41.48 per lakh).Singh et al. (2022) highlighted that Sri Muktsar Sahib is grappling with waterlogging and salinity issues due to an extensive canal network, excessive canal irrigation, inadequate groundwater withdrawal, and a poor drainage system.Kaur et al. (2019) further noted that the introduction of high-yielding wheat varieties and the shift to paddy as a second major crop contributed to the waterlogging problem in the district.The groundwater in the Muktsar region is heavily contaminated, with high levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), turbidity, and hardness.The high TDS concentration impairs water's potability and reduces oxygen solubility (Godara, 2016).The quality of water varies with the seasons, and monitoring these parameters is essential for understanding the metabolic processes of the aquatic system (Dey et al., 2021).Water quality is crucial for fish survival, and factors such as pH level (7.0-8.5),dissolved oxygen (greater than 5 ppm), water level, ammonia content, and temperature in the tank must be continuously monitored to prevent undesirable conditions for fish farming (Ujwala et al., 2020).Labeo rohita (rohu), a member of the Cyprinidae family, is one of the most important species among the three major Indian carp.It is found in the freshwater regions of South and Southeast Asia.This fish is widely consumed