A STUDY ON PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF RIVER UKE, KARU LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed the physico-chemical parameters of river Uke in Nasarawa state, Nigeria, with a view to evaluating water quality status. Water samples were collected from selected sampling stations along the river over a period of one year covering both dry and rainy seasons. Standard analytical procedures were employed for the determination of key physico-chemical parameters which include temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, total dissolved solid, turbidity, nitrate, and phosphate. Results revealed that the physico-chemical parameters of river Uke varies spatially and seasonally, reflecting the influence of environmental factors such as rain fall, runoff and anthropogenic activates. Water temperature ranges within 28.00-25.83 values of a typical tropical fresh water system while pH values (6.00-7.78) indicate slightly acidic to neutral condition suitable for aquatic life. Dissolved oxygen concentrations were generally within (4.6-6.13) which is acceptable limits for fish survival although occasionally changes were observed across station. Other parameters such as turbidity which ranges with in (58.55-47) and total dissolved oxygen which ranges within (2.28-00.46) showed higher values during the rainy season, likely due to increased surface runoff and sediment input into the river, nitrate and phosphate which values ranges from 2.28-0.46 and 27.07-0.58 respectively. From the one way ANOVA statistical analysis between parameters of different stations, the temperature, pH, total dissolved solid, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, nitrate and phosphate parameters showed no significant effects (P ≥ 0.05) across three sampling stations with p-values of 0.640, 0.722, 0.924, 0.87, 0.818, 0.752, 0.922 and 0.976 respectively at 0.05 probability level. However, for the seasonal variations a T-test analysis was carried out which recorded that there were significant differences (P≤0.05) in temperature, pH, Turbidity, DO, BOD, nitrate and phosphate parameters between the two seasons while TDS showed no significant differences (P≥0.05) between the two seasons. This research contributes to the understanding of fresh water ecology in Nasarawa state and provides base line information essential for environmental monitoring, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable utilization of aquatic resources