Abstract
Groundwater quality was evaluated for irrigation purpose by collecting the groundwater samples from 36 locations during pre- and post-monsoon seasons. These groundwater samples were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters like pH, EC, TDS, major cations, and anions. Furthermore, irrigation quality indices like salinity hazard, chloride hazard, magnesium hazard, carbonate and bicarbonate hazard and sodium hazard were calculated using the analytical results. These parameters were compared with standard limits for irrigation use for the prevailing crops. The hydrochemical results indicate that the groundwater in the study area is neutral to slightly alkaline in nature. Based on the EC and TDS classification, most of the groundwater samples are falling under medium salinity hazard category. The order of abundance of major anions and cations in groundwater was found as \({\text{HCO}}_{3}^{ - }>{\text{C}}{{\text{l}}^ - }~\) > \(~{\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - }~\) > \(~{\text{SO}}_{4}^{{2 - ~}}\) > \(~{\text{CO}}_{3}^{{2 - }}>{{\text{F}}^ - }\) and \({\text{N}}{{\text{a}}^+}~\) > \(~{\text{C}}{{\text{a}}^{2+}}~\) > \(~{\text{M}}{{\text{g}}^{2+}}~\) > \({{\text{K}}^+}\). The Chadha’s diagram revealed the dominance of \({\text{N}}{{\text{a}}^+} - {\text{HCO}}_{3}^{ - }\), mixed \({\text{C}}{{\text{a}}^{2+}} - {\text{M}}{{\text{g}}^{2+}} - {\text{C}}{{\text{l}}^ - }\), and mixed \({\text{C}}{{\text{a}}^{2+}} - {\text{M}}{{\text{g}}^{2+}} - {\text{HCO}}_{3}^{ - }\) and \({\text{N}}{{\text{a}}^+} - {\text{C}}{{\text{l}}^ - }\) types of hydro-geochemical facies. Based on the EC and SAR, classification more than 50% of the samples is falling under slight to moderate reduction in infiltration rate category in both seasons. The study revealed that most of the water samples are exceeding the critical levels of irrigation water quality and it may require careful management to growth suitable crops in the study area. In addition, the study also points out that usage of such a high TDS groundwater for irrigation may cause soil salinity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adam Sigler W, Morris A, Johnson K, Ronemus C, Phipps R (2017) Basics of salinity and sodicity effects on soil physical properties. http://waterquality.montana.edu/energy/cbm/background/soil-prop.html#Growth. Accessed 07 Jul 2017
APHA (2012) Standard methods for examination of water and wastewater, 22nd edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, pp 1360
AWWA (1971) Water quality and treatment. Mc Graw Hill, New York, p 654
Ayers RS, Westcot DW (1985) Water quality for agriculture. Irrigation and drainage paper No.29, FAO, Rome. http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/T0234E/T0234E00.htm. Accessed 28 May 2016
Balachandar D, Sundararaj P, Rutharel Murthy K, Kumaraswamy K (2010) An investigation of groundwater quality and its suitability to irrigated agriculture in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India—a GIS approach. Int J Environ Sci 1(2):176–190
Bauder TA, Waskom RM, Sutherland PL, Davis JG (2014) Irrigation water quality criteria. Coloraro state university, fact sheet no. 0.506. http://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/crops/00506.pdf. Accessed 21 May 2016
BIS (2003) Bureau of Indian Standards specification for drinking water. IS: 10500:91. Revised 2003. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi
Bryan GH, Donald AH, Robert GS, Jason WE, Dan MS (2007) Managing irrigation water quality for crop production in the pacific northwest. A pacific northwest extension publication, 597-E. https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/pnw597.pdf. Accessed 21 May 2016
Chadha DK (1999) A proposed new diagram for geochemical classification of natural waters and interpretation of chemical data. Hydrogeol J 7(1):431–439
Domenico PA, Schwartz FW (1998) Physical and chemical hydrology. Wiley, New York, p 824
Eaton FM (1950) Significance of carbonates in irrigated water. Soil Sci 69(2):127–128
FAO (2003) The irrigation challenge: increasing irrigation contribution to food security through higer water productivity from canal irrigation system. IPTRID Issue Paper 4, IPTRID Secretariat, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Rome. ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/005/y4854E/y4854E00.pdf. Accessed 19 Jun 2016
Fipps G (1998) Irrigation water quality standards and salinity management. The Texas A & M University system. http://www.extension.org/mediawiki/files/1/le/salinity document.pdf. Accessed 19 Jun 2016
GSI (1995) Geological quadrangle map 57 F, printed at Info maps, Madras
GSI (2004) Geological quadrangle map 57 E, printed the map printing division, Hyderabad
Gurpal ST, Mary L (2014) Reclaimed water use in the landscape: understanding landscape irrigation water quality tests. UF, IFAS Extension, University of Florida, SL341: 1–8. http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/homeowners/nine_principles.htm. Accessed 19 Jun 2016
Halliwell JD, Barlow KM, Nash DM (2001) A review of the effects of wastewater sodium on soil physical properties and their implications for irrigation systems. Aust J Soil Res 39(6):1259–1267
Hem JD (1985) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water. US Geol Surv Water supply paper—2254, p 264
Hill RA (1940) Geochemical patterns in the Coachella valley, California. Trans Am Geophys Union 21:46–49
Islam MS, Shamsad ZKM (2009) Assessment of irrigation water quality of Bogra district in Bangladesh. Bangladesh J Agric Res 34(4):597–608
Jafar Ahmed A, Ananthakrishnan S, Loganathan K, Manikandan K (2013) Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation use in Alathur Block, Perambalur District, Tamilnadu, South India. Appl Water Sci 3:763–771
Jurec JN, Singh SK, Jazbec A, Gautam SK, Kovac I (2017) Hydrochemical investigations of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigational purposes: two case studies of Koprivnica-Krizevi county (Croatia) and dostrict Allahabad (India). Sustain Water Resour Manag. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-017-0200-x
Kant S, Singh YV, Jat LK, Meena R, Singh SN (2015) Assessment of groundwater quality of Laher block, Bhind district in Madhya Pradesh. Int J Adv Geosci 3(2):38–41
Kar KK, Yang SK, Lee JH (2015) Assessing unit hydrograph parameters and peak runoff responses from storm rainfall events: a case study in Hancheon Basin of Jeju Island. J Environ Sci Int 24(4):437–447
Kelly WP (1951) Alkali soils—their formation properties and reclamation. Rein old Pub. Crop., New York, p p176
Khodapanah L, Sulaiman WNA, Khodapanah N (2009) Groundwater quality assessment for different purposes in htehard district, Tehran, Iran. Eur J Sci Res 36(4):543–553
Krishnakumar P, Lakshumanan C, Pradeep Kishore V, Sundararajan M, Santhiya G, Chidambaram S (2014) Assessment of groundwater quality in and around Vedaraniyam, South India. Environ Earth Sci 71:2211–2225
McFarland M, Lemon R, Stichler C (2002) Irrigation water quality: critical salt levels for peanuts, cotton, corn and grain sorghum. http://www.hpwd.org/s/irrigationwaterquality.pdf. Accessed 20 Jun 2016
Mirza ATM, Tanvir R, Syed HR, Ratan KM (2012) Groundwater quality for irrigation of deep aquifer in southwestern zone of Bangladesh, Songklanakarin. J Sci Technol 34(3):345–352
Nag SK, Das S (2014) Quality assessment of groundwater with special emphasis on irrigation and domestic suitability in Suri I & II Blocks, Birbhum District, West Bengal, India. Am J Water Resour 2(4):81–98
Nagaraju A, Sunil Kumar K, Thejaswi A (2014) Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation: a case study from Bandalamothu lead mining area, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, South India. Appl Water Sci 4:385–396
Nata T, Abraham B, Bheemalingeswara K, Tesfamichael G (2011) Suitability of groundwater quality for irrigation with reference to hand dug wells, Hantebet catchment, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. MEJS 3(2):31–47
Nishanthiny SC, Thusshanthy M, Barathithasan T, Saravanan S (2010) Irrigation water quality based on hydrochemical analysis, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Am Eurasian J Agric Environ Sci 7(1):100–102
Obiefuna GI, Sheriff A (2011) Assessment of shallow groundwater quality of Pindiga Gombe area, Yola Area, NE, Nigeria for irrigation and domestic purposes. Res J Environ Earth Sci 3(2):131–141
Oster JD, Schroer FW (1979) Infiltration as influenced by irrigation water quality. Soil Sci Soc Am J 43:444–447
Paliwal KV (1972) Irrigation with saline water. Monogram No.2 (New series). IARI, New Delhi, p 198
Piper AM (1944) A graphic procedure in geochemical interpretation of water analyses. Trans Am Geophys Union 25:914–923
Ramesh K, Elango L (2012) Groundwater quality and its suitability for domestic and agricultural use in Tondiar river basin, Tamilnadu, India. Environ Monit Assess 184(6):3887–3899
Rhoades JD (1977) Potential for using saline agricultural drainage waters for irrigation. In: Proceedings of water management for irrigation and drainage, ASCE, Reno, Nevada. pp 85–116
Richards LA (1954) Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils. USDA Hand Book No 60:160
Saikia MM, Sarma HP (2011) Hydro geochemical characterization of groundwater of nagaon district of Assam, India. J Environ Res Dev 6(1):41–50
Sappa G, Ergul S, Ferranti F (2014) Water quality assessment of carbonate aquifer in southern Latium region, Central Italy: a case study for irrigation and drinking purposes. Appl Water Sci 4:115–128
Sawyer CN, McCarty DL (1967) Chemistry of sanitary engineers, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York, p 518
Shah T, Molden D, Sakthivadivel R, Seckler D (2000) The global groundwater situation: overview of opportunity and challenges. International Water Management Institute, Colombo, http://publications.iwmi.org/pdf/H025885.pdf. Accessed 20 Jun 2016
Sharma DA, Madhuri SR, Keesari T (2017) Evaluation of groundwater quality and suitability for irrigation and drinking purposes in southwest Punjab, India using hydrochemical approach. Appl Water Sci 7:3137–3150
Singh UV, Abhishek A, Singh KP, Dhakate R, Singh NP (2014) Groundwater quality appraisal and its hydrochemical characterization in Ghaziabad (a region of Indo-Gangetic plain), Uttar Pradesh, India. Appl Water Sci 4:145–157
Sreedevi PD (2002) A case study on changes in quality of groundwater with seasonal fluctuations of Pageru river basin, Cuddapah District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ Geol 42(4):414–423
Sreedevi PD (2004) Groundwater quality Pageru River Basin, Cuddapah district, Andhra Pradesh. J Geol Soc India 64(5):619–636
Srinivasa Reddy K (2013) Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation of Bhaskar Rao kunta watershed, Nalgonda district, India. Int J Water Res Environ Eng 5(7):418–425
Stevens RG (1994) Water quality and treatment considerations. In: Williams KE, Ley TW (eds) Tree fruit irrigation: a comprehensive manual of deciduous tree fruit irrigation needs. Good fruit grower publishing (Washington State Fruit Commission), Yakima, pp 115–125
Tillman RW, Surapaneni A (2002) Some soil related issues in the disposal of effluent on land. Aust J Exp Agric 42(3):225–235
Tiwari AK, Ghione R, De Maio M, Lavy M (2017) Evaluation of hydrogeochemical processes and groundwater quality for suitability of drinking and irrigation purposes: a case study in the Aosta vally region, Italy. Arab J Geosci 10(12):264–281
Towfiqul Islam ARM, Shen S, Bodrud-Doza MD, Safiur Rahman M (2017) Assessing irrigation water quality in Faridpur district of Bangladesh using several indices and statistical approaches. Arab J Geosci 10:418
Twort AC, Law FM, Growely FW, Ratanayaka DD (1994) Water supply, 4th edn. Wiley, New York, p 10158
USSL (1954) Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils. US Dept. Agriculture hand book—60, Washington, DC, p 160
Vasanthavigar M, Srinivasamoorthy K, Rajiv RG, Vijayaraghavan K, Sarma VS (2012) Charactersiation and quality assessment of groundwater with a special emphasis on irrigation utility: Thirumanimuttar sub-basin, Tamil Nadu, India. Arab J Geosci 5:245–258
Venkateswaran S, Vediappan S (2013) Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation use and evaluate the feasibility zones through geospatial technology in lower Bhavani sub basin, Cauvery river, Tamil Nadu, India. Int J Innov Technol Explor Eng 3(2):180–187
Vincent KN, Edward KB, Michael M (2012) The geochemistry of some ground and surface water systems in the East Gonja district of Northern Ghana. J Environ Earth Sci 2(9):9–21
Wilcox LV (1948) The quality of water for irrigation use. USDA Technical Bulleten No 962, Washington, DC, p 40
Wilcox LV (1955) Classification and use of irrigation waters. USDA Circular No 969, Washington, DC, p 19
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the Director, CSIR—National Geophysical Research Institute, for his kind permission and encouragement to publish this work. The first author gratefully acknowledges the Department of Science and Technology (DST) New Delhi, for financial assistance in the form of Women Scientists Scheme (WOS-A) Project (No.SR/WOS-A/ES-20/2013(G)). The authors wish to thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions and comments which improved the quality of the paper.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sreedevi, P.D., Sreekanth, P.D., Ahmed, S. et al. Evaluation of groundwater quality for irrigation in a semi-arid region of South India. Sustain. Water Resour. Manag. 5, 1043–1056 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-018-0279-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-018-0279-8