Evaluating Seasonal Dynamics of Water Quality and Embankment Soil along the Gorai River in Kushtia, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Water and soil are fundamental components of ecosystems, crucial for maintaining agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and human livelihoods. This study aims to observe the seasonal dynamics of water quality and embankment soil along the Gorai River, Kushtia, Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 15 water samples and 15 embankment soil samples were collected along the river for both dry (January- February 2024) and wet (July- August 2023) seasons following random sampling techniques. The water and soil samples were analyzed at the Environmental Analysis Laboratory of Islamic University, Kushtia, and the regional laboratory of SRDI, Kushtia, Bangladesh respectively. To identify the relationship among variables, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA) were computed for this study. Results: The results show that some parameters of water samples such as turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and electrical conductivity (EC) exhibit significant differences for both dry and wet seasons except dissolved oxygen (DO) and hardness; whereas, pH, EC, calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) of soil samples show differences for both seasons. The correlation analysis reveals a robust correlation between EC and TDS and turbidity and TSS in water samples from both the dry and wet seasons. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation exists between organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen (N2), and both seasons show a positive correlation between Cu and Fe. The PCA analysis indicates that salinity-related factors such as EC and TDS greatly influence water quality during the dry season. In contrast, there is greater variability during the wet season, with N2, phosphorus (P), and OM playing significant roles due to increased moisture and nutrient dynamics of soil samples. Conclusion: This study’s outcomes revealed that electrical conductivity (EC) showed significant differences for both soil and water samples in dry and wet seasons. This study will contribute to sustainable water and soil resource management by identifying the key seasonal elements affecting water quality and soil fertility in the Gorai River region.