Macrophytes and their Nutrient content analysis- a study of Dal Lake, Kashmir

The nutrient analysis of some macrophytes like Typha angustata, Phragmites australis, Azolla sp., Nulembo nucifera, Potamogeton natans, Trapa natans, Potamogeton lucens, Ceratophyllum demersum and Myriophyllum verticillata belonging to different life-form classes was carried out in the present study. In general, the nutrient content like moisture content, ash content, crude protein, crude fiber, and lipids varies from 86-94%, 8-29%, 13-22%, 1-21%, and 1-5% respectively with highest values during summer months which is the peak growing season of these macrophytes. The highest value of moisture content was found in the case of Azolla sp. (94.60 ±0.26) whereas the lowest content was found in the case of Nelumbo nucifera ( 86.04±0.60). The highest ash content was observed in the case of Myriophyllum verticillatum (29.31±1.20) while the lowest ash content was observed in Nelumbo nucifera (8.00±1.20). The highest value of crude protein was recorded in Azolla sp. (22.15±0.40) and the lowest was recorded in Myriophyllum verticillatum (13.01±0.05). Crude fiber shows the highest value in Ceratophyllum demersum (21.00±6.74) and the lowest in Typha angustata (1.80±0.18). lipid shows the highest range in Ceratophyllum demersum (5.96±0.14) and lowest in Trapa natans (1.00 ±0.15). The nutrient analysis shows species specificity and spatial and temporal variation. The finding of the present study suggests that these macrophytes have great importance in day-to-day life and can be used as a potential source of food for humans, feed for fishes, fodder for bovine animals, and as fertilizers for flowering gardens, horticulture fields, floating gardens and agriculture fields.