The aim of this study was to undertake a preliminary assessment of the freshwater and soil samples of four different regions at Domate Elgandal Lake (Aljouf Governorate, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) during summer and autumn seasons of one year (2014-2015). The Physico-chemical characteristics of the water and soil samples were evaluated. pH was fluctuated in normal ranges between 7.93-8.74 during the study, while sulfate, phosphorus, copper and manganese were recorded high values more than the acceptable ranges. Microbiological analyses indicated the total coliform was too numerous to count and, therefore, warrants more attention. Total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were detected in 5% of the water samples. Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae were represented by 2, 2 and 7 genera, respectively, all over the water and soil samples. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H’) appears <1 in the soil sample during autumn season (0.64).
Physico-chemical, microbiological quality, microalgae, Domate Elgandal Lake, Saudi Arabia
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