Impact of River Water Pollution on Growth Performance and Condition Factor of (Channa punctatus) in District Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The present study investigates the physicochemical parameters of river water and their impact on the growth performance of Channa punctatus in District Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Water quality analysis revealed elevated temperature (40.4°C air, 31.5°C water), high turbidity (27.60 NTU), alkaline pH (8.62), and organic pollution indicators including low dissolved oxygen (5.14 mg/l), elevated biological oxygen demand (6.84 mg/l), and chemical oxygen demand (43.60 mg/l). Comparative assessment of fish populations between clear water (Group A) and polluted water (Group B) sites demonstrated significant reductions in growth parameters: average length decreased by 2.79%, average weight reduced by 32.12%, and condition factor (K) declined by 25.85% in polluted habitats. Size-class analysis revealed that smaller individuals (6-9 cm) showed greater pollution sensitivity with 30.60% weight reduction compared to 32.89% in larger individuals (11-16 cm). The condition factor declined from 1.47±0.17 in clear water to 1.09±0.22 in polluted water, indicating poor health status in contaminated environments. These findings establish clear linkages between water quality degradation and impaired fish growth, highlighting the need for urgent conservation measures in Shahjahanpur's riverine ecosystems.