Ecological Studies of Ped Lake (Tal. Tasgaon, Dist. Sangli. Maharashtra. India - 416 312) with Respect to Hydrobiology, Livelyhood and Carbon Footprints

Abstract

This study examined the hydrobiological characteristics of Ped Lake in Tasgaon tehsil, Sangli district, Maharashtra, alongside surrounding soil properties, vegetation patterns and standing-tree carbon estimates. The field investigation was conducted during 2024–2025. Water samples were collected from six sites, while soil properties were assessed at five sites. Multispectral Landsat 8 OLI imagery was processed using ArcGIS 10.5 to investigate spatial vegetation patterns through the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI). Water pH ranged from 8.14 to 8.80, electrical conductivity from 0.39 to 0.42 dS/m, total dissolved solids from 255 to 266 mg/L, dissolved oxygen from 5.3 to 5.9 mg/L and biochemical oxygen demand from 3.8 to 4.9 mg/L. Carbonates were absent from the water samples, whereas bicarbonate concentrations ranged from 201.6 to 220.8 mg/L. Soil pH varied from 7.15 to 7.58, with differences among sites in organic matter and nutrient-related measurements. NDVI values of approximately −0.05 characterised the lake surface, while values of 0.40–0.52 occurred in vegetated areas to the south and south-east. Measurements of standing trees were used to estimate biomass-derived carbon for the recorded species. These findings establish a descriptive, site-specific baseline for assessing water and soil conditions, surrounding vegetation and standing-tree carbon in the Ped Lake area, and for subsequent monitoring and management assessments.