Title Indonesian Journal of Environmental Management and Sustainability e-ISSN:2598-6279 p-ISSN:2598-6260 Research Paper Water quality assessment based on biological and chemical analysis as a parameter for development of fresh water fishery in Lubuk Karet River of Banyuasin District Carli Junicef Vratama1*, Siti Masreah Bernas1, Mohamad Amin1, 1 Environmental management program, graduate school of Sriwijaya University, Jl. Padang Selasa, No. 524, Bukit Besar, Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia *Corresponding author e-mail: emilia_lia89@yahoo.com Abstract Lubuk Karet River is a river that surrounded by swamps with various kinds of plants and grasses. The Lubuk Karet River has the potential for the development of aquaculture which can be the business part of Lubuk Karet village community. This research was aimed to conduct an assessment effort in order to measure the capability of Lubuk Karet River for any aquaculture activities. The method used in this study is purposive sampling by conducting water quality assessment through biological and chemical parameters to support the development in that region. The results of this test can be a benchmark of fish species that can be cultivated in the Lubuk Karet River. The results of the chemical and biological parameters showed that the lowest DO content at station 2 was 3.11 mg/L and the highest BOD content at station 1 was 4.7 mg/L, the highest at station 1 was 606 mg/L, the highest TSS content 50 mg/L, the highest nitrate content at station 1 was 6,54 mg/L, the highest phosphate content at station 2 was 0.098 mg/L, the highest COD content at station 2 was 5,61 mg/L, Salinity was 0, the highest content at station 2 was 9,71 mg/L and the lowest pH value at station 5 was 2.96. From these results, it can be concluded that for further utilization for aquatic culture, some treatments must be conducted. Keywords river, exploration, fishery, chemical parameter, biological parameter Received: 12 March 2018, Accepted: 4 May 2018 https://doi.org/10.26554/ijems.2018.3.2.64-68 1. INTRODUCTION The Lubuk Karet river was surrounded by swamps and various plants such as Kumpai grass (Hymenachine amplexicaulis), Gelam (Melaleuca sp.), and nipah (Nypa fruticans). The area of swamp that surrounds the Lubuk Karet River ranges from 20- 40 m2. Swamps in the Lubuk Rubber River have the potential for the development of agricultural and �shery activities where the ownership of the land belongs to the government of Lubuk Karet village. Hence, it can be utilized by residents around the river that is domiciled in Lubuk Karet Village. Most of the people around the Lubuk Karet River work as farmers and �shermen. The existence of the river can be utilized by the surrounding residents. Utilization of aquatic resources optimally and continuously can be developed to sup- port the �shery sector in Lubuk Karet River. Fish cultivation in a cage can be used as one alternative source of income to improve the welfare of the community who generally work as farmers and �shermen. Water quality is the main factor that can in�uence optimal and sustainable �sh management. The survival, development, growth and production of �sh that can support the activities of �sh cultivation in the cage (Cholik et al., 1986). Considering the importance of the role of water quality to �shery activities in the Lubuk Karet River, hence the ef- fort for assessing the water quality must be conducted. In this work, the water quality of the Lubuk Karet River was as- sessed according to the chemical and biological parameters. The chemical parameter assessment was carried out by mea- suring the dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solid (TDS), total suspended solid (TSS), salinity, ammonium con- tent, and pH. The biological parameters analysis was carried out by measuring the diversity of �sh, plankton, and bentos. The goal of this research was to identify the characteristic of water quality of Lubuk Karet River. The results obtained from this research is hoped to be a reference and a benchmark for the exploration of the �sh species that can be cultivated in the Lubuk Karet river. 2. EXPERIMENTAL SECTION 2.1 Research Location This research was conducted in Lubuk Karet river located in Lubuk Karet village, Betung subdistrict of Banyuasin, South https://doi.org/10.26554/ijems.2018.3.2.64-68 Vratama et. al. Indonesian Journal of Environmental Management and Sustainability, 3 (2018) 64-68 Figure 1. Sampling location Sumatra (Figure 1). The whole research samples were collected on June to July 2017 at the rainy and dry season. 2.2 Materials and Instrumentation Materials used in this work including various kinds of chemical for water quality test. The DO analysis was conducted using DO meter ES-70, BOD analysis was conducted in the envi- ronmental agency (BLH) laboratory of Banyuasin district. pH value of the water samples was measured with Lutron PH 222 instrument. The biological parameters of plankton and ben- thos was collected using plankton net and the sampling location was determined using GPS Garmin Map 62Sc. 2.3 Method The research method used in this work was a survey method that used a purposive sampling. The determination of station conducted by considering the properties of the river that rep- resented the whole river that will be used as �sheries activities). For the data survey, the tabulation and regression and direct sampling at the stationary points and direct observation in the �eld, data collection and laboratory analysis based on insitu and exsitu method. The variables used in this work including water quality based on the chemical and biological analysis. The chemical analysis of the samples including DO, CO2, BOD, TDS, TSS, nitrate, phosphate, COD, salinity, and ammonium content analysis. The biological analysis was conducted by analyzing the presence and the abundance of �sh, plankton, and benthos in the collected water samples. Water sample col- lection was divided into �ve observation stations in which the distance of each station was ±6 km and each station was named as station 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. 2.4 Analysis of plankton data Identi�cation of plankton diversity in the collected sample was conducted in the lab with the accuracy of the analysis was determined to the genus stage. The procedure of the plank- ton analysis was conducted as follow. The bottle containing plankton sample was shaken gently until homogenous. Then the sample solution was taken using a pipette and dropped to the Sedgwick Rafter Counting Cell with maximum capacity 1 mL. The observation of the sample then carried out using a microscope with magni�cation 10 x 10 mL. 2.4.1 Plankton abundancy analysis The plankton abundancy was described as the individual per liter. The plankton abundancy can be measured by the follow- ing equation (Junaidi et al., 2013): N = Ns×va Vs×vc (1) Where N is the plankton abundancy per liter of sample (ind./L), Ns is the amount of plankton at the Sedgwick Rafter Counting Cell (Individual), vs is the volume of water at the Sedgwick Rafter Counting Cell (mL), va is the volume of water concentrated in the sample bottle (mL), and vc is the volume of �ltered water (L). 2.4.2 Species diversity index The index of species diversity was calculated according to the following equation. H1 =− ∑ pi lnpi (2) Where pi is equal with ni/N. N is the number of total individual in the community. H1 is the diversity of species or Shanon index and Ni is the number of individual of each species. The value of H1 then grouped in the the following criteria. H1 < 1 means that the biota community is not sta- ble. 1 ≤ H1 ≤ 3 means that the biota community in average of stability. H1 > 3 means that the biota stability is in good condition or highly stable. 2.4.3 Domination index The domination index of Simpson can be described by the following equation. C =− ∑ (pi) 2 (3) Where pi equal to ni/N, C is the domination index, ni is the number of individual of each species. N is the number of total individual within the community. The value of C can de separated according to the following criteria. The value of C between 0 to 1, if the C value approaching zero, it means that there is no dominating species. However, if the C value is approaching 1, it means that there is a dominating species. 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3.1 Assessment of water quality in Lubuk Karet River The assessment of water quality in the Lubuk Karet river was carried out by two kinds of parameter i.e., chemical and bio- logical parameters. All of these water quality assessments were © 2018 The Authors. Page 65 of 68 Vratama et. al. Indonesian Journal of Environmental Management and Sustainability, 3 (2018) 64-68 conducted in the two season, rainy season and dry season. This test is conducted to study the water quality of the Lubuk Karet River and the potential of �sheries that can be developed in the river. 3.1.1 Chemical parameter analysis The content of DO on the Lubuk Karet River shows that some types of �sh are able to develop well. There are several types of �sh that can survive with low DO content. Some �sh can live well on oxygen content of less than 4 ppm, especially �sh that have additional breathing apparatus. This extra breathing ap- paratus helps the �sh take oxygen directly from the air. Cat�sh (Clarias, sp), Three spot gourami �sh (Trichogaster, sp), snake- head �sh (Chana striata) and gouramy (Osprhronemus gourami) are �sh with additional breathing apparatus (E�endi, 2003). The results of BOD parameter analysis in the study sites showed a range of values of 1.6 mg/L - 4.7 mg/L. The results obtained in the study are still above the water quality standard speci�ed for freshwater �sh activities according to the standard quality of PERGUB LH. NO. 16. YEAR 2005. According to Zonneveld (1991) states that the standard content of BOD in a water for freshwater �sh is 6 mg/L, good for the continuity of �sh farming activities. The content of TDS in the Rubber Lubuk river as a whole has an excellent value for �sh farming with a range of 51 mg/L - 606 mg/L. The content of TDS in the river Lubuk Karet is included in the value of quality standards. PERGUB LH.No.16.Tahun 2005 states the requirement of TDS content does not exceed 1000 mg/L. In accordance with Khairuman and Amri (2003) also states the range of TDS for �sh cultiva- tion activities that is 1000 mg/L where the value of good TDS can support the activities of aquaculture. 3.1.2 TSS (Total Suspended Solid) The content of TSS in Lubuk Karet river has a value between 5 mg/L - 50 mg/L where the content of TSS is still good. PERGUB.LH.NO.16. Year 2005 states maximum content for TSS 20 mg/L. So the value of TSS in the river lubuk rubber can be said good and feasible for aquaculture where the content of TSS can support the phytoplankton life process. High concentrations of suspended solids greatly reduce the penetration of sunlight into the water so that the heat received by surface water is not e�ective enough for photosynthesis (Tarigan, 2010). 3.1.3 Nitrate content The content of nitrate in the highest dry season at station 5 is 0.199 and the lowest at station 3 is 0,094 mg/L. In the rainy season, the highest nitrate content at station 1 is 6.54 mg / L and the lowest at station 4 is 2.07 mg/L. From the existing content of both dry and rainy season can still be said to be good category according to quality standard for aquaculture (PER- GUB.LH.NO.16.2005) .The level of nitrate toxicity of �sh is very low, mortality caused by �sh when the concentration reaches 1000 mg/L, while the maximum value of concentra- tion for �sh culture is 60 mg/L according to wyk F. and scarpa (1999). Phosphate content in rainy season and dry season in Lubuk Karet River is the highest in station 2 with value 0,098 mg/L and in rainy season there is at station 3 with value 0,081 mg/L. In dry season the lowest phosphate content is found in station 3, that is 0,014 mg/L and in rainy season at station 1 is 0,015 mg/L. The results of calculations during the rainy and dry seasons indicate that the value of phosphate quality standard in the waters of river lubuk rubber is included in the quality standard (in accordance with the standard quality standards according to PERGUB.LH.No.16. Year 2005). According Nuryanto et al. (2015) suggests that the phosphate content of more than 0.051 mg/L then the waters can be said to be good. The highest COD value during the rainy and dry season is at station 2 with a COD content of 56.1 mg/L and at station 1 with a content of 44.7 mg/L. The lowest COD value in the rainy season is at station 3 of 29 mg/L and at station 3 of 4.48. The high value of COD at the research station is in�uenced by several factors: organic material that is not degraded or de- composed, one of which comes from the crude oil processing industry (CPO), in other words the source of organic material is derived particles that precipitate from the surrounding swamp empties into the river. According Nuryanto et al. (2017) indus- try is the main source of organic waste and is the main cause of high concentrations of COD in a waters. Meanwhile, according to Yusuf and Handoyo (2004) the COD value for aquaculture is < 80 mg/L and ideally < 25 mg/L. The value of quality standard for COD according to PERGUB LH.NO.16 Year 2005 is less than 50 mg/L, this indicates that the COD content in the lubuk rubber river is good for aquaculture. 3.1.4 Salinity The salinity value on the measurements of each sample and season shows the salinity content value of 0 mg / L. The results of this calculation indicate that the Lubuk Rubber River is not a�ected by salinity of sea water. According to Novotny and Olem (1994) salinity in waters is a�ected by heat �ux, precipitation, river �ow (�ux) and current circulation patterns. Salinity according to Boyd (1982) based on the ability of �sh that adjust to certain salinity, can be classi�ed into �sh that have a small salinity tolerance (stenohaline) and �sh that have a wide salinity tolerance (euryhaline). According to PERGUB LH.no 16 Year 2005 salinity value in lubuk karet river during the rainy season included in the quality standard that is 0 whereas in dry season the salinity value is 0.1 which is still tolerable �sh which categorized have very small salinity tolerance. 3.1.5 Ammonium content Ammonia content during the highest rainy season at station 1 is 2.73 mg / L and the lowest ammonia content at station 4 is 0.106 mg / L. Ammonia content during the rainy season has a linear regression value above 0.5 or close to 1. This indicates that the ammonia content in the Lubuk Karet River has a rela- © 2018 The Authors. Page 66 of 68 Vratama et. al. Indonesian Journal of Environmental Management and Sustainability, 3 (2018) 64-68 Figure 2. Amount of plankton in the rainy and drain season tionship between station 1 to station 5. During the dry season the highest value at station 2 is 9,71 mg / L and the lowest am- monia content at station 4 is 0,092 mg / L. Ammonia content in Lubuk Karet River is not included in the quality standard for aquaculture. According to Tarigan (2010) the factors a�ecting ammonia in waters are in�uenced by organic matter, dissolved oxygen and turbidity. This increased ammonia compound, will increase the growth and density of phytoplankton. The high density of phytoplankton leads to an explosion in population (blooming), followed by die-o� of phytoplankton. Events of population explosions and mass mortality of phytoplankton will worsen the quality of river water. Decreasing the quality of river water can also spur the emergence of various diseases in �sh. The highest pH value during the rainy season is 5.68 at station 1 and the lowest at station 5 is 4.74. The pH value during the highest dry season at station 1 is 6.48 and the lowest at station 5 is 2.96. The pH value in Lubuk Karet River does not meet the established quality standard for aquaculture. At the point of station 1 dry season entering for the standard of aquaculture cultivation. The pH value of the Lubuk Karet River is in�uenced by the concentration of gases in rivers such as CO2, the concentrations of carbonate and bicarbonate salts and the decomposition of organic matter in the bottom of the waters. Naturally, the pH of the waters is in�uenced by the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) and acidic compounds. Changes in pH become sensitive to most aquatic biota. Aquatic organisms prefer pH to neutral pH (Novotny and Olem, 1994). 3.2 Biological Parameters Assessment The number of plankton during the highest rainy season at station 2 is 5844 species and the lowest number of plankton at station 3 is 814 species, the number of plankton in the Lubuk Karet River is di�erent in the dry season. In the dry season the highest number of plankton at station 1 is 282 species and the lowest number of plankton at station 3 is 814 species. The number of plankton itself is in�uenced by various factors both physics and chemistry as shown in Figure 2. The composition of plankton found in the dry season in the Lubuk Karet River consists of Zooplankton and phytoplankton. Zooplankton was found to consist of �ve classes: Mastigophora, Crustacea, Ciliata, Monogononta and Digononta, while Phy- toplankton was found to consist of three classes: Bacillario- phyceae, Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae. Plankton compo- sition in the dry season more than in the rainy season. Seen in the dry season found eight classes consisting of Zooplankton and phytoplankton, but in the rainy season has more individual numbers of 13,557 individuals when compared to the dry sea- son that only found as many as 687 individuals. Fluctuations in the presence of plankton in the Lubuk Karet River show that the season is very in�uential. As Barus (2004) points out, the seasons will a�ect environmental factors such as temperature, dissolved oxygen and current velocity, so that with seasonal changes it may also a�ect biota conditions in the area. The degree of diversity in the observations of each station can be seen in stations 1 and 3 where high phytoplankton diver- sity with values of 1.838 and 1.680 is inversely proportional to the low zooplankton values of 1.4075 and 1.0728. The diversity value at the high zooplankton station is 1.5614 and the value of the phytoplankton diversity of 0.713, the value can be interpreted the diversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton a�ect each other by each other. The value can be suspected that there are some high-diversity phytoplankton to zooplankton type which resulted in unstable plankton level existing in the observation station. At stations 2 and 5 the values of phyto- plankton and zooplankton are more stable with each other ie 1.0734 and 1.5614. This is thought to be in�uenced by the presence of phytoplankton in these waters, in the food chain phytoplankton to be a source of food for zooplankton either di- rectly or indirectly. Zooplankton which is heterotrophic will eat phytoplankton directly, while indirectly zooplankton herbivor will be eaten by zooplankton carnivores and other animals of larger size, including �sh (Nuryanto et al., 2015). The level of diversity in the observation of each station can be seen in station 2 where the high phytoplankton diversity with the value of 0.637 and zooplankton value 0. At stations 1, 4 and 5 the phytoplankton values are 0.803, 0.637 and 1.721. This is thought to be in�uenced by the presence of phytoplank- ton in these waters, in the food chain phytoplankton to be a source of food for zooplankton either directly or indirectly. Zooplankton which is heterotrophic will eat phytoplankton directly, while indirectly zooplankton herbivor will be eaten by zooplankton carnivores and other animals of larger size, including �sh (Nuryanto et al., 2015). 3.3 Fish Diversity Observations show that there are twelve species of �sh found in the Lubuk Karet River of the whole species, meaning that the Lubuk Karet River has a high diversity of �sh species. The results show the number of �sh species ≥16. That number proves that �sh species found in the Lubuk Rubber River are high. This is directly proportional to the statement of Nuryanto et al. (2015) that high species diversity can be ensured that support of good water quality. © 2018 The Authors. Page 67 of 68 Vratama et. al. Indonesian Journal of Environmental Management and Sustainability, 3 (2018) 64-68 Figure 3. The comparation of diversity index of phytoplankton and zooplankton at the rainy season Figure 4. The ralationship of diversity index between phytoplanton and zooplanton From the observations made in the river lubuk rubber the data obtained is inversely proportional to the statement of Nuryanto et al. (2017), the low diversity of �sh species present in the Lubuk Karet River is in�uenced by several factors such as the declining quality of water by palm oil industry waste, pesticides and herbicides as well as fertilization in oil palm plan- tations during rainfall will a�ect water quality due to emptying into Lubuk Rubber River and catching �sh using environmen- tally unfriendly tools (potassium poison) based on interviews with residents around the Lubuk Karet river it can be concluded that River Rubber holes are low in number of species. 4. CONCLUSIONS From the results of observation and sampling �eld found only 12 species of �sh. This is categorized as a river that has a low variety of �sh species. Plankton from the observed samples taken were found from class 3 phytoplankton and 5 class zoo- plankton. From result of measurement of water quality of chemical parameter of Lubuk Rubet River both in rainy season and dry season show not included in standard class III standard in accordance with PERGUB LH 2005 for �shery cultivation. The results of the analysis indicate that the Lubuk Karet River needs water quality processing before conducting aquaculture. This treatment aims to produce optimal �sh farming. Types of �sh with tolerant values of low water quality conditions can be cultivated in the Lubuk Karet River. Types of �sh such as cat�sh are the species that can be cultivated in the Lubuk Karet river. REFERENCES Cholik, F., A. Hardjamulia, and R. Arifudin (1986). Budidaya Perikanan. BLPP SUPM Negeri, Bogor E�endi, H. (2003). Telaah Kualitas Air bagi Pengelolaan Sumber Daya dan Lingkungan Perairan. Kanisius. Yogjakarta. Novotny, V. and Olem (1994). Water Quality: Prevention, Iden- ti�cation, and Management of Di�use Pollution. New York: van Nostrand Reinhold Nuryanto, A., D. Bhagawati, M. Abulias, and Indarmawan (2015). Fish diversity at Cileumeuh River in District of Majenang. Cilacap regency. Central Java. Jurnal Iktiologi Indonesia, 12(12) Nuryanto, A., D. Bhagawati, and M. N. Abulias (2017). Fauna ikan di Sungai Cikawung Kabupaten Cilacap Jawa Tengah [Ichthyofauna in the Cikawung River, Cilacap Regency, Cen- tral Java]. Jurnal Iktiologi Indonesia, 15(1); 25–37 Tarigan, M. S. (2010). Kandungan total zat padat tersuspensi (total suspended solid) di perairan Raha, Sulawesi Tenggara. Makara Journal of Science wyk F., V. and J. scarpa (1999). WaterQrslity Rquirements and Managemenl chapter 8. Farming Mar Zonneveld, C. (1991). Estimating death rates from transect. Ecological Entomologi, 16(1); 115–121 © 2018 The Authors. Page 68 of 68 INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL SECTION Research Location Materials and Instrumentation Method Analysis of plankton data Plankton abundancy analysis Species diversity index Domination index RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Assessment of water quality in Lubuk Karet River Chemical parameter analysis TSS (Total Suspended Solid) Nitrate content Salinity Ammonium content Biological Parameters Assessment Fish Diversity CONCLUSIONS