Harvesting
of algal bloom in water bodies & reutilizing them as source of
bio-fertilizers to the flora at Jayamahal Extension Park under BBMP limits
Report of
the camp conducted during May-2015
In
association with CITIZENS INITIATIVE JAYAMAHAL ASSOCIATION (CIJMA) &
student volunteers of Dept. of Zoology, SJR College
Report
submitted by
Dr. Prakash.
S. R.
Chairman
NANDANAVANA
–AN ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION GROUP,
24, 6TH
MAIN, 6TH CROSS, Shrikanteshwarnagar, Nandini layout post,
Mahalakshmi layout, Bangalore-560096.
Harvesting
of algal bloom in water bodies & reutilizing them as source of
bio-fertilizers to the flora at Jayamahal Extension Park under BBMP limits
Dr. Prakash.
S. R.
Introduction:
In urban areas it is very fascinating to have public
parks with beautiful greenery &. Water-bodies.
During rainy season the water bodies are over flooded & draining them is
not only a hectic task, this becomes a breeding ground for insects and
generates algal blooms. The algal blooms is a threat to the water bodies as
they gradually deplete the components of the lake ecosystem, also the physical
parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia, temperature, turbidity, are
effected & this leaves an impact on the flora and fauna of the aquatic
system. The algal blooms should not be allowed to mix with the sewage water
& that should be harvested to reutilize as a source of bio-fertilizer. This
program attempts to give the algal bio-fertilizer boost to the flora of
jayamahal Public Park under BBMP limits.
Objectives:
The following objectives were laid to conduct the harvest of the algal blooms in the pond.
1. To know the existing flora in terms of aquatic and
terrestrial species
2. To harvest the existing algal blooms from the water
body & reinvest them as bio-fertilizer feed to the flora of the Park.
3. To provide algal feed as a source of nutrition to
the flora.
4. To educate the local & student community with
the knowledge of the pond ecosystem & involve them in its protection and
conservation.
5. To create an educational experience to spread the
knowledge & convey the message of conserving the natural resources.
Methods & Materials:
Materials: Large fishing nets, buckets, Hand gloves, spades, aprons, caps, hand
wash materials etc.
Methods: The algal blooms were created on the stagnated rain water in the pond
and the area was not exclusively large to consider a standard method &
randomly the algal blooms were harvested.
1.
The existing
flora in terms of aquatic & terrestrial species was documented. The aquatic ones were algal blooms, water
lily, typha grass, hydrilla, moss while terrestrial ones were young plants of
Bauhinia purpurea, (bullock foot tree), Alternenthera sessalis, grass weeds, Boerhaavia
diffusa, Commelina benghalensis.
2.
The algal blooms
were collected in the fishing nets along with water of the pond & filtered
in the buckets. The clear water was left to pond and only the algal mass was
stored in the pans and buckets. Care was taken to see that no aquatic fauna was
harmed in the process. The algal mass was spread in the periphery of the round
basins around the flora of the Jayamahal Park.
3.
The algal mass
during the feeding time to the basins of the flora was rich in moisture content
and became a mulching material to the land plant. The algal mass on drying will
enrich the C:N ratio to the growing plant and on decaying provides organic
carbon for the growth. During monsoon season this action enhances the humus in
the soil which provides nutrition to the plants.
4.
The knowledge of
these facts was shared with CIJMA members and local residents who were present
at the time of the programme at the site. The program was conducted under the
supervision of Dr. Sagarika K, Head of the Dept. of Zoology, SJR College &
Dr. Prakash. S.R. Chairman, Nandanavana to the student volunteers of SJR
College. The students were involved in collecting the algal bloom and providing
them as feed to the plants in the basin.
5.
The camp was
conducted in a systematic method that the participants observed that even though
the algal blooms were a bane it could be converted to a boon to the growing
terrestrial plants. One’s food is another’s poison philosophy was applied and
the students were conveyed that algal biomass was a threat to pond and so it
has to become food to the land plants.
Site description: Jayamahal area comes under the BBMP limits in the
Bangalore city. This area comprises of about 26 avenue roads. This area is
adjacent to Nandi durg road and is a paradise of the elite class citizens. The
area enjoys typical Bangalore climate and red color soil texture is present. The
area is having all types of urban civic amenities and is planned for
metropolitan life style. The avenue tree’s is planted on the road sides and is
being monitored by the CIJMA group with BBMP. The area possesses a beautiful
park with variety of trees and ornamental species. The pond is situated in the
midst of the park. The pond is having fishes, caramounts, tortoise, and other
fauna.
Need of the camp: The pond was facing congestion with algal blooms and due to
Eutrophication foul odor had generated and this irritated to the park users. Several
requests to the local authorities to clean the pond went to the deaf ears. The
park had only one attendant who had to take care of the flora and fauna as well
as the pond. Due to monsoon rains the pond was getting filled with rain water
day by day and immense increase in the algal bloom population was observed as
it was a favorable season for its propagation. The local residents knew about
these facts but could not plunge into action as they were lacking time to
concentrate and anticipated authorities’ intervention. CIJMA had contacts with
public concerns and they approached Nandanavana-An
Environment Education Group to give a solution to the algal menace. The
camp was conducted in association
with student volunteers of Zoology Dept, SJR College. The harvested algae from
the pond were invested as bio-fertilizer and no chemical analysis of the water
sample was done in this program.
Analysis: The moistened algae increases the water holding capacity
of the soil till its desiccation & during the process of decomposition the
algae undergoes carbon fixation in the soil resulting in increase of organic
carbon content and cellulose of dried algae provides fiber that aerates the
soil. The algal biomass contributes for the soil fertility. The pond is
surrounded by the vegetation and the roots of the plants store the ground
water.
Importance: Recycling of the natural
resources such as algal bloom increases soil fertility and manuring process is
carried out without any extra labor or monetary investment. This program
emphasizes the conservation of water bodies to provide water to the future
human habitats.
Results: The Camp was conducted with limited equipments and within a short span
of time it was realized that pond or lake ecosystem resources provides fertile
soil and stores ground water as a need to the flora which in turn human population
along with fauna consumes them. Periodical removal of the algal blooms is quite
essential in a water body to ensure optimum content of dissolved oxygen.
Discussion: This camp program on “Harvesting of algal bloom in water bodies &
reutilizing them as a source of bio-fertilizer to the flora at Jayamahal
extension BBMP Park” was a joint collaborative approach of
CIJMA-Nandanavana-SJR College efforts to educate the local community and
student group to save the water body from environmental threats. This is an
ideal example to public that their participation is quite essential for all
nature concerns. CIJMA’s constant effort was to bring the attention of the
administrators to attend this kind of environmental problems and persistently
works with other agencies and NGO’s. Timely attention is required by the policy
makers as general public may not possess the required operational procedures
and preparations for natural phenomenon as the case sited in this report. Man
power, materials, and monetary flow are essential in tackling environmental
crisis. NGO’s working in these aspects has to be supported and motivated to
function more actively by providing funds. Academicians must take more interest
in assigning practical field related projects to UG & PG students to build
their potential ability.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Nandanavana-An Environment Education Group
would like to thank the CIJMA team members for their kind cooperation in
conducting the camp.
Dr. Sagarika K, Head, Dept. of Zoology SJR
College and student volunteers Rakesh B, Kiran.T, Lakshman Raj, Rishab Tiwari,
Uma Devi.N. Sudha Devi. V. All these students were commended for their
participation by giving a certificate.
Mr. Keerthi Urs (042LM2015, life member of
Nandanavana) from Apollo Pharmacy, Mahalakshmi layout, B’lore-86 for supplying
hand-wash, hygienic materials to the camp free of cost.
Ms. Apoorva- media reporter, Bangalore Mirror
News paper.
SELECTED REFERENCES:
1. Mohan. P .Arora, “Ecology” Himalaya publishing
House, Mumbai.
2. Sharma P.D “Elements of Ecology”, Rastogi
Publications, Meerut.
3. Sharma. O.P. “Plant Taxanomy”, Tata Mc Graw Hill
Publishing Company, New Delhi.
4. Water Quality Monitoring techniques for schools- A
teacher’s manual published by Centre for Environment Education, Thaltej Tekra,
Ahmedabad.
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