Irrigation Water Quality Research Articles

Assessment of Water Quality for Irrigation of Some Selected Soils/Areas in Yola, Adamawa State, North East, Nigeria

The study was carried out to assess the quality of irrigation water in Yola, North-East Nigeria. The study area comprises five locations: Doubeli, Bajabure, Bwaranji, Lake Gerio, and Jabbore. One water sample was collected from each of the five locations to analyze the chemical properties of the water quality for irrigation purposes. The data generated data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The coefficient of variation (CV) and Least Significant Difference (LSD) were used to separate the means at the (P< 0.05) level of significance to test the relationship between and within soil properties using Statistical Analysis System (SAS version 9) statistical software. Based on laboratory results, irrigation water across the five locations indicated a pH range from slightly acidic to neutral conditions (6.45 to 7.28). EC ranged from 0.13 to 0.28 d Sm-1, SAR ranged from 0.57 to 0.67 cmol (+)kg-1 and RSC, CO2-3, HCO-3 and Cl- contents were also low, ranging from 0.40 to 0.56 meq/l, 0.18 to 0.29 meq/l, 0.83 to 0.91 meq/l, and 145.94 to 168.56%,respectively. Hence, ANOVA for water quality showed that there was a highly significant difference between TDS (493.2**), Na (0.006**), SAR (0.003**), CO2-3 (0.003**), HCO-3(0.003**), RSC (0.009**) and Cl-(489.4**) across the locations, respectively. Although EC (0.006*) and Ca (0.075*) at (P <0.05) showed a significant difference in all five locations, pH and Mg did not show any significant difference across the five locations. However, the water in the study area is free from toxicity, and there is no danger of salinity. Therefore, it is suitable for irrigation and can be classified as good quality water.

Assessment of Sarda Sahayak Canal water quality for irrigation using different indices

Suitability of canal water for irrigation is a useful tool for careful management of canal water resources that can impact soils and thereby effect agricultural production. The present work was conducted at Kunda Tehshil in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, India for the assessment of variation in water quality of Sarda Sahayak Canal. Canal water samples were collected and important parameters deciding irrigation water quality were analysed viz., pH, electrical conductivity (EC), chloride, calcium, magnesium, carbonate, bicarbonate, sodium, potassium and sodium, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), permeability index levels (PI) and Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI). Correlations between studied parameters were deduced to derive at relationships existent between different water quality parameters. Results showed that monthly variation of water quality of the Sarda Sahayak Canal were under permissible limits and classified as good for irrigation with respect to pH, Na%, SAR, RSC and Cl parameters. EC values ll water samples were under medium /good range for irrigation whereas irrigation water quality index of 50% of water samples were under no restriction category and the rest 50% samples showed low restriction category, and hence canal water could be satisfactorily used for irrigation purposes. Further, soils of the studied area were saline, and hence canal water could be safely used for leaching the excess salts out from root zone to achieve high yields without risking and any other soil related problems that could arise out of the use of canal water.

Water Quality and Dissolved Organic Carbon Content in Agricultural Streams: Northern Nile Delta Region, Egypt

Sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2 (zero hunger), 6 (clean water and sanitation), and 15 (life on land) are related to the human-water-soil nexus. Soil organic carbon and nutrients can be removed and transported to waterways through runoff and drainage. The main goals of this study are to quantify the water quality for irrigation and assess the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) contents in streams in the northern Nile Delta, Egypt. A 4-year water quality monitoring program is accomplished by collecting 35 irrigation and drainage water samples per year from the study area. The measured water quality parameters are as follows: salinity, pH, Na, SAR, Cl, and NO3–N. In addition, the DOC content is accessed. The salinity hazard ranged from moderate, for most irrigation samples, to high and very high for drainage samples. All collected water samples have low to medium sodium hazards. Results indicate that average DOC contents in irrigation canals are 2.32 and 2.93 mg L−1 for the summer and winter, respectively. The respective means of DOC concentration in drainage canals for the summer and winter seasons are around 3.96 and 5.09 mg L−1. This study revealed significant differences in EC, pH, Na, Cl, and SAR, as water quality parameters, between irrigation and drainage canals. Additionally, the studied agroecosystem has seasonal variability in DOC concentration in irrigation and drainage canals between summer and winter. Overall, reusing drainage water for irrigation in the study area requires the selection of suitable crops and site-specific management.

Assessment of irrigation water quality for vegetable farming in peri-urban Kumasi

Polluted water contains a variety of toxic compounds that tend to affect human health. Farmers have recently looked at runoff wastewater as a source of irrigation water because it comes at no cost and is a more efficient alternative to potable water due to the high demand but limited supply. This present study assesses the quality and suitability of water sources used for irrigation at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology vegetable farmlands. The study specifically investigated the quality of water used for irrigation with the following parameters: pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, chloride, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, oil and grease, fluoride, nitrate, nitrite, sulphate, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sodium adsorption potential, alkalinity, conductivity, phosphate, Escherichia coli, fecal and total coliforms. The results revealed that the water contained moderate levels of chloride and could be good for plant growth. The total coliform counts range from 2.1 × 106 to 4.15 × 107 MPN/100 mL, suggesting a relatively high microbial load in the irrigation water. The results also suggested that the sodium absorption ratio was very low and may not affect the quality of water for irrigation purposes. Fe levels far exceed the 5 mg/L maximum acceptable limits recommended by the WHO and FAO for the irrigation of vegetables. The high Fe concentration could discolor the leaves of some plants, especially foliage leaves. However, the levels of Cd were within the WHO maximum permissible limit of 0.01 mg/L.

Irrigation water quality and criteria/standards in Croatia - contribution to the environment and industry

The water quality used for irrigation should meet the prescribed criteria. The most commonly determined indicators are electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved salts (TDS), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and sodium absorption ratio (SAR). Water can also contain harmful substances, regardless of whether irrigation is carried out from surface water or groundwater. The origin of the pollution can be waste, untreated wastewater or saltwater intrusion. The use of poor water quality can cause soil problems such as alkalinity, salinity, increased sodium concentration, toxicity, etc. In Koprivnica- Križevci county (KKŽ) and throughout Croatia, irrigation is currently poorly represented in agriculture. Given the climate change and the trends of very dry and hot seasons, the implementation of irrigation is of increasing importance. According to the results of determining the groundwater quality for irrigation in KKŽ, the values of the indicators are satisfactory (EC = <0.7 dS/m; TDS = <450 mg/l; RSC = <1.25 meq/l; SAR = <3.0 meq/l) for use in agriculture. However, since there are no standards and criteria in Croatian regulations that would define water quality, the results are compared with European/world standards. Water quality testing and the adoption of standards/criteria in Croatia could contribute to the future development of agriculture in increasingly unfavorable climatic conditions and prevent environmental pollution. This would ensure more efficient cultivation of plants, which also contributes to production in our own food industry.

Development of Leaf Area Model in Chokeberry Plant Grown in Different Irrigation Water Quality

Chokeberry is a berry fruit species that has grown in the world in a few decades, and it is used in many fields, especially in the pharmaceutical industry. There needs to be a study examining the relationship between leaf area and irrigation water quality in this species, whose cultivation has started to increase. In this study, which was carried out between 2021 and 2022, the effects of irrigation water quality on leaf area in 1-year-old chokeberry plants of the 'Viking' variety grown in peat and soil media were determined. Irrigation water with 0.65 dS m-1 (Control), 2dS m-1, 4dS m-1, 8dS m-1, and 10dS m-1 electrical conductivity were used in the study. A model was developed in this study to estimate leaf area (LA) using leaf width (W) and leaf length (L) values to determine leaf area. The proposed prediction model was determined as "LA=2.86+4.448×W+0.33×L2-1.496×L " (R2= 0.99). Three-dimensional graphs of the developed models were drawn, and the changes in leaf width, length, and leaf area values against irrigation water salinity were determined. As a result, it was determined that there was a negative relationship between the electrical conductivity of irrigation water and leaf width, length, and area values.

Feasibility of utilizing recycled drainage water in agriculture using an analytical network process (ANP) and geographic information system (GIS)

AbstractUtilizing unconventional water for sustainable agriculture is a multi‐criteria process. Decision‐making in such problems is based on finding the value of various criteria using advanced methods, for example the analytic network process (ANP). ANP is usually preferred in cases where the criteria are not independent and have intra‐/intergroup relationships. Considering techno‐economic and environmental criteria, the ANP structure was used in this study to investigate the feasibility of utilizing Chapaghli drainage water in western Golestan Province, Iran, for cultivating tolerant and semi‐tolerant crops, including canola, barley, cotton and wheat, using GIS software. Irrigation water availability, techno‐economic distance and land suitability for cultivation were selected as techno‐economic criteria, while irrigation water quality, soil, plant sensitivity and aquifer vulnerability were selected as environmental criteria. The results show that canola is the best crop for cultivation with Chapaghli drainage water. This study provides a reliable decision‐making infrastructure related to the recycling of drainage water for various cultivars in an area where environmental hazards are minimized.

An efficacy investigation of combining Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) with Filters as a Bioremediation for Leachate Contaminated Water

Pollution occurs everywhere and threatens rice field that require good quality water. Leachate is a pollutant from the Final Disposal Site (TPA) and flows into irrigation in the surrounding area. This study aims to experimentally analyse using a combination of Water Hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes and filter media (zeolite, charcoal, and gravel) to improve irrigation water quality and performance in a limited time. Samples were obtained from TPA Pakusari, Jember, East Java, Indonesia (-8,16956, 113.76129). There were three treatments: control, Water Hyacinth (WH), and Water Hyacinth + Filter (WHF). Multiparameter Aquacombo HM 3070 was used to test the parameters of Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Conductivity, and pH. Determination of DO levels was done by the Winkler Method. Sample tests were performed every day (0-14 days). TDS and pH measurements showed that WH was a treatment that significantly reduced the effect. OD measurements showed significant increases in WH and WHF on the 7th day but not significant again on the 14th day. BOD measurements showed that control and WH decreased significantly starting the seventh day. Only the control treatment differed significantly on day 14 for conductivity measurements. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) showed that the WH and WHF treatments differed significantly, as a set of measured parameters between treatments formed different clusters on days 7 and 14. The significance of this study lies in its potential contribution to developing effective and sustainable methods to mitigate water pollution in agricultural settings, particularly in regions affected by leachate from disposal sites. The findings could be pivotal in improving irrigation water quality, thereby supporting healthier crop growth and sustainable agricultural practices.

Kajian Dampak Penambangan Pasir Terhadap Kualitas Air Sungai Untuk Irigasi di Indonesia

The high demand for sand as a material is in line with the increase in sand mining activities. The main sand mining location commonly takes place in rivers. Even though rivers are also used as the main source for agricultural irrigation. The sand mining activities could affect river water quality, which could also impact irrigation on plant growth and crop yields. This review aimed to analyze the impact of sand mining in several locations in Indonesia on river water quality for irrigation. The data collection method was carried out by searching for articles according to the topic on Google Scholar using several predetermined keywords. Analysis and review were carried out through several stages and 6 articles were obtained according to the topic. Sand mining activities in rivers are frequently carried out using manual and mechanical techniques. The use of manual techniques in mining can have an impact on river morphology as well as the physical and chemical quality of river water. Mechanical techniques have a greater impact on changes in river water quality, where most mining is carried out using manual techniques. Therefore, the sand mining with mechanical techniques, especially using excavators, can have a higher impact on the quality of river water for irrigation.

Hydrochemical Characteristics and Suitability Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation

The hydrochemical properties of groundwater play a crucial role in crop growth and soil health, as well as the maintenance of irrigation equipment. To ensure suitable water quality for irrigation, the present study was conducted to evaluate the hydrochemical properties of irrigation groundwater in a typical agricultural region of Serbia. Groundwater was sampled at three monitoring locations in the Srem region in Republic of Serbia between 2011 and 2020. Examined parameters included electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved salts (TDS), pH values, and the concentrations of cations (sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+) and potassium (K+)) and anions (bicarbonate (HCO3−), chloride (Cl−), sulfate (SO42−), and nitrate (NO3−)). Further assessment was done using three classification systems; Nejgebauer’s, the US USSL, and the FAO classification. To obtain a more detailed assessment, additional indices were included, such as Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Permeability Index (PI), Kelly’s Ratio (KR), Magnesium Adsorption Ratio (MAR), and Total Hardness (TH). The PCA analysis detected that the concentration of K+, Ca2+, and Na+ in the irrigation water were lower in recent years, while the concentration of Cl− was higher. The cluster analysis grouped the parameters into three clusters; I—electroconductivity, II—dry residue and HCO3−, and III—other water parameters for all three monitoring localities. According to the applied classifications, the majority of underground water samples were suitable for irrigation. However, some samples fell out of the range of the first class, indicating the need for regular water quality monitoring. In light of climate changes that influence water deficiency, the urgent need for wise and sustainable water use implies the application of a comprehensive approach to irrigation water quality assessment, as shown in this study.

Groundwater Quality Assessment and Irrigation Water Quality Index Prediction Using Machine Learning Algorithms

The evaluation of groundwater quality is crucial for irrigation purposes; however, due to financial constraints in developing countries, such evaluations suffer from insufficient sampling frequency, hindering comprehensive assessments. Therefore, associated with machine learning approaches and the irrigation water quality index (IWQI), this research aims to evaluate the groundwater quality in Naama, a region in southwest Algeria. Hydrochemical parameters (cations, anions, pH, and EC), qualitative indices (SAR,RSC,Na%,MH,and PI), as well as geospatial representations were used to determine the groundwater’s suitability for irrigation in the study area. In addition, efficient machine learning approaches for forecasting IWQI utilizing Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Support vector regression (SVR), and K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN) models were implemented. In this research, 166 groundwater samples were used to calculate the irrigation index. The results showed that 42.18% of them were of excellent quality, 34.34% were of very good quality, 6.63% were good quality, 9.64% were satisfactory, and 4.21% were considered unsuitable for irrigation. On the other hand, results indicate that XGBoost excels in accuracy and stability, with a low RMSE (of 2.8272 and a high R of 0.9834. SVR with only four inputs (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K) demonstrates a notable predictive capability with a low RMSE of 2.6925 and a high R of 0.98738, while KNN showcases robust performance. The distinctions between these models have important implications for making informed decisions in agricultural water management and resource allocation within the region.

Pollution challenges and consequences of the Akaki catchment, Upper Awash Basin, Ethiopia: Evidence for policy reform and action

AbstractThis paper draws upon previous and current research on the levels of various pollutants in the Awash River Basin. The research used high‐tech instruments to determine the levels of physio‐chemical parameters, potentially toxic elements, and other pollutants in wastewater, sediment, soil, vegetables, and fish samples collected from different sampling sites in the Akaki catchment. The results showed that the average concentration for most of the analyzed parameters exceeded the recommended limits stated by drinking and irrigation water quality guidelines. The concentrations varied with the sites significantly with trends of localized contributions of the different contaminants associated with industrial, municipal, domestic, medical centers, garages, petrol stations, and other commercial centers evident. Concentrations of contaminants were remarkably high in the catchment rivers and shallow groundwater reservoirs. Comparison with permissible standards showed poor environmental management by relevant regulatory bodies and industries. Despite having good laws and standards at the federal and regional levels, they are not effectively implemented or enforced to prevent environmental pollution. Given the potential health implications of the toxic substances, we recommended a range of mitigation measures as a matter of urgency to the relevant authorities.

Evaluation of Agricultural Soil-Improving Zeolite for Improving Irrigation Water Quality

With a progressively decreasing availability of water for irrigation, the utilization of lower agronomic quality water sources is becoming more prevalent. Compounds such as sodium and boron, due to their impact on crop development and production, are gaining significance in these water sources. Finding novel methods to immobilize these compounds in irrigation water is a top priority in the global agricultural sector. This study focused on exploring the potential of natural zeolite, commonly used as a soil improver and as a sorbent for sodium and boron in natural agricultural waters. The zeolite exhibited favorable properties, including a surface area of 40 m2/g and a cation-exchange capacity of 1.8 mg/g. Using a central composite factorial design, the zeolite’s capacity to remove sodium and boron from irrigation water was investigated. The results demonstrated significant efficiency in boron removal, while sodium removal was limited, with occasional desorption episodes. Response surface analysis revealed optimal conditions for the removal of each cation. Additionally, adsorption kinetics and pH effects were explored, emphasizing the influence on sodium sorption. Kinetic models were applied, and the pseudo-first-order model proved suitable for describing the sorption kinetics. These findings enhance our understanding of zeolite efficacy in irrigation water purification, emphasizing the complexity of cation interactions in “complex” solutions.

ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSE USING IRRIGATION WATER QUALITY INDEX (IWQI)

Groundwater represents an important natural resource for sustaining life. This study was conducted to evaluate groundwater in the Doukkala region in Morocco, using the Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) and uses Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) in GIS was to show the spatial distribution of water quality parameters. It collected 97 of samples from groundwater and were estimated the sodium concentration (Na%), and sodium absorption rate (SAR), Also, Residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Kelly index (KI), magnesium content (MR), salinity potential (PS), and permeability index (PI). According to the distribution map of the Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) for the study area, about 22.7% of samples fall into the severe restriction (SR) category, which can be used to irrigate plants with high salinity tolerance, 34.02 of samples fall under the high restriction (HR) category, 23.7% of samples fall into the moderate restrictions (MR) category, 17.52% of samples fall under the low restriction (LR) category, and 2.06% of samples fall under the no restriction (NR) category. The results of (IWQI) indicated that the groundwater quality in the study area is mostly suitable for irrigation purposes.

Evaluation of the adaptation of groundwater quality in the Ketama Al-Hoceima region (Morocco) to agricultural irrigation

In the Ketama region, irrigation used to depend on rainwater and surface water. However, with drought and water shortages affecting the region, farmers are increasingly relying on groundwater. “Recognizing the critical importance of water quality in irrigation, a total of 164 water samples were collected from various points and subjected to physicochemical analysis. The assessment of groundwater suitability for irrigation encompassed several parameters, including chloride, electrical conductivity (EC), percentage of soluble sodium (% Na), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RCS), magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR), permeability index (PI), Kelley ratio (KR), potential salinity (PS), synthetic harmfulness coefficient (K), irrigation coefficient (Ka), chloro-alkaline indices (CAI-1 and CAI-2), and irrigation water quality index (IWQI).”. Results showed that 43.29% (EC), 82% (Na), 68.40% (SAR), and 68.29% (Ka) of groundwater samples were excellent and that 77% (PI) of samples were suitable for irrigation. The IWQI revealed that 21.96% of samples are considered to have high restrictions. This study aims to provide crucial information on irrigation water quality in the region, providing valuable data for various stakeholders to make informed decisions on agricultural practices and the sustainable use of water resources, particularly in the face of challenges posed by climate change and water shortages.

A Comparative Analysis of Water Quality Parameters of Vembanad Lake, Kerala and Its Primary Inflows Based on the Seasonal Variations

The ecology of lakes is largely dependent on rivers. However, because research has frequently concentrated on rivers and lakes independently, the interconnectivity between them is poorly defined. During the present study, hydrochemical investigation of surface water from the Vembanad Lake and its primary inflows, Periyar, Muvattupuzha, Manimala, Meenachil, Pamba and Achenkovil were carried out. This study describes the quality and suitability of lake and river water for consumption and irrigation purposes. It also aids in determining the influence of six rivers over the Vembanad lake water quality. Total 80 samples were collected during pre-monsoon and post monsoon seasons. Various physico-chemical parameters such as Temperature, Turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Conductivity, pH, Alkalinity, Total Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Bicarbonate and Sulphate were analysed. The chemical classification using Piper trilinear diagram reveals that sodium is the predominant cation in both seasons. The Water Quality Index value of the Vembanad Lake is found to be higher in the pre-monsoon season compared to the postmonsoon. Sodium hazard (Sodium Adsorption Ratio- SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonates (RSC), Sodium Percentage (Na%), Magnesium Hazard (MH), Kelly's Ratio (KR) and Permeability Index (PI) are the parameters used to identify the irrigation water quality. Based on the irrigation water quality parameters it can be concluded that water from southern portion of the lake and six inflows are suitable for irrigation purpose. The U.S. Salinity diagram indicates that the northern portion of the lake occupies the high sodium hazard zone. The water quality of the southern portion of the Vembanad Lake is chiefly controlled by its primary freshwater in flows and the northern portion by the saline water from the Arabian Sea. Keywords: Hydrogeochemistry, Water Quality, Sodium Adsorption Ratio,Vembanad Lake Kerala

Evaluation of the Irrigation Water Quality of a Canal Contaminated with Textile Dyeing Industry Effluent

The textile dyeing industries discharge untreated effluent into nearby surface water bodies and introduce large numbers of inorganic, organic toxic compounds containing suspended solids, color, etc., which pose a threat to use for irrigated agricultural lands and human health. The study aimed to assess the irrigation water quality of textile dyeing industry effluent-contaminated canal water. The canal water samples were collected from several locations, analyzed for various physicochemical parameters, and assessed for water quality using multivariate statistical analysis and several water quality indices. The analysis results illustrated that the high levels of electrical conductivity (EC), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, Na+, NO3-, PO43-, HCO3-, BOD, and COD in the wastewater samples exceeded the DoE-BD standard limits, indicating a higher level of pollution of the canal water. Concerning heavy metal concentrations, Pb was found to be at a higher level in the water. Moreover, irrigation water quality indices such as permeability index (PI), Kelly’s ratio (KR), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR) were found to be higher than the standard limits. The multivariate cluster analysis showed that the two clusters were found among the eighteen sampling sites that included heavily contaminated sites. The discharge of industrial effluent into canal water has a detrimental effect on agricultural products. The study observed that the canal water is not suitable for irrigation purposes, and thus the textile dyeing industrial effluent must be treated by installing an environmentally friendly effluent treatment plant (ETP) before being dumped into surface water bodies, which will help reduce environmental pollution as well as develop sustainable surface water resource management.

Evaluating the suitability of groundwater for irrigation in parts of mid-Gangetic plains, Bihar

Irrigation water quality is critical for crop production. The present study focuses on assessment of suitability of groundwater for irrigation purposes in four blocks of Samastipur district, Bihar lying in the mid Gangetic plains. In this district most of the people are dependent upon agriculture.

Cost-centric innovations to address Water-Agriculture nexus challenges in Egypt: Research Status Analysis

High costs associated with technology adoption can be a barrier against the improvement of water use in agriculture. Therefore, interventions must be not only technically feasible but also financially affordable and accessible to farmers. To understand the current situation of research in lowcost (and cost-effective) water solutions for effective management of agricultural water challenges in Egypt. A total of 19 peer-reviewed papers were obtained from systematic research on various databases, the employed keywords are: “Egypt” AND “irrigation” AND “low cost” OR “low-cost” OR “cost-effective” OR “cost-effective”. Based on the analysis of the selected studies, many low-cost technologies and techniques are applied in the Egyptian Delta on-farm levels, such as using low-cost soil moisture sensors attached to a smart monitoring unit operated by Solar Photo Voltaic Cells (SPVC), wireless sensor network in cultivating the potato crop, flexible on-field irrigation, cut-off irrigation, and Pressurized Irrigation Systems. The proposed solutions can help improve water use efficiency, increase crop yields, reduce the cost of irrigation, improve the quality of irrigation water, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. The economic analyses and feasibility studies presented in these papers provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in making informed decisions about water use and agricultural practices.

Seasonal assessment of water quality for irrigation using multiple indices in Thamirabarani river, Kanyakumari district, India

The Hydrochemical analysis and evaluation of the irrigation water quality of the Thamirabarani river system has great significance for maintaining the livelihoods of people and ecological stability in the area. Thamirabarani river is a significant river in kanyakumari district and the people of this district use the water largely without enough and unbelievable information about the water qualities and levels of contamination. The study is the prime source of water for irrigation and domestic uses in the above district. The water samples were collected from ten locations, Pechiparai dam to Thengapattanam estuary in pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons respectively. The hydrochemistry in the river water was established by twelve parameters such as (pH, EC, TDS, NO3-, SO42-, Cl-,CO32-, HCO3-, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) and also characterized by Box plot. Furthermore the potential effects of irrigation water qualities were evolved on sodicity hazard, magnesium hazard, sodium permeability hazard, and permeability hazards were assessed by using derived parameters including sodium adsorption ratio, Soluble Sodium Percentage, Permeability index and Kelly’s ratio. The correlation study reveals that there is a strong positive correlation among the indices. The Wilcox diagram describes that the upstream stations in the river water is used for irrigation the downstream stations especially station 9 and station 10 were unsuitable for irrigation because of sea water intrusion discharge of domestic wastes and agricultural activity contaminates the quality of the river water. Therefore the study need special attention to maintain the quality of the river.