Abstract
This study was carried out to ascertain the suitability of the Oji River surface water resources for aquaculture purposes. Physico-chemical analyses were carried out on water samples collected from three different points along the river course representing the upper, middle and lower courses. The water samples were analyzed for Temperature, pH, Conductivity, Turbidity, Chlorides, Alkalinity, Total Hardness, Nitrate, Sulphates, Phosphates, Total Dissolved Solids, and Total Suspended Solids. The Temperature values of the surface water samples ranged from 270c to 280c. The pH values ranged from 5.40 to 5.60. The Electrical conductivity values ranged from 60.60 to 63.63 μScm-1. The Turbidity values ranged from 0.60 to 0.76 NTU. The Chlorides values ranged from 5.60 to 6.80 mg/L. The Alkalinity values ranged from 2.80 to 4.00 mg/L. The Total Hardness values ranged from 8.00 to 10.40mg/L. The Nitrates values ranged from 0.17 to 0.69 mg/L. The Sulphates values ranged from 5.51 to 6.20 mg/L. The Total dissolved solids values ranged from 985 to 1240 mg/L. The Total suspended solids values ranged from 1000 to 1260 mg/L. The results of the analyzed water parameters indicated that the values obtained for most of the samples were within the acceptable ranges for aquaculture operations and that only a few samples were outside the acceptable ranges though their effects can be corrected. The outcomes of the analyses showed that Oji River area council and environs have great potentiality for aquaculture development.
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