Irrigation Water Quality

What is the relationship between water logging and salinity?
During weathering of rocks and minerals ,large quantity of salts are brought in solution. In arid and semi
arid regions evapotranspiration exceeds rainfall ,and rainfall is not enough to leach out the salts from
crop root zone , therefore this salt concentration in the soil and ground water cause salinity.
The practice of irrigation results in consumptive uses of water through evapotranspiration, leaving
behind salts concentrated in a smaller volume of water. In irrigated agricultural land, waterlogging is
often accompanied by soil salinity as waterlogged soils prevent leaching of the salts imported by the
irrigation water.
irrigation water quality
The water quality used for irrigation is essential for the yield and quantity of crops, maintenance of soil
productivity, and protection of the environment. For example, the physical and mechanical properties of
the soil, ex. soil structure (stability of aggregates) and permeability, are very sensitive to the type of
exchangeable ions present in irrigation waters.
WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
Water used for irrigation can vary greatly in quality depending upon type and quantity of dissolved salts.
Salts are present in irrigation water in relatively small but significant amounts. They originate from
dissolution or weathering of the rocks and soil, including dissolution of lime, gypsum and other slowly
dissolved soil minerals. These salts are carried with the water to wherever it is used. In the case of
irrigation, the salts are applied with the water and remain behind in the soil as water evaporates or is
used by the crop.
The suitability of a water for irrigation is determined not only by the total amount of salt present but
also by the kind of salt. Various soil and cropping problems develop as the total salt content increases,
and special management practices may be required to maintain acceptable crop yields. Water quality or
suitability for use is judged on the potential severity of problems that can be expected to develop during
long-term use.
Irrigation water quality can best be determined by chemical laboratory analysis. The most important
factors to determine the suitability of water use in agriculture are the following:
- PH
- Salinity Hazard
- Sodium Hazard (Sodium Adsorption Ration or SAR)
- Carbonate and bicarbonates in relation with the Ca & Mg content
- Other trace elements

- Toxic anions
- Nutrients
- Free chlorine
WATER QUALITY-RELATED PROBLEMS IN IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE
SALINITY
Salts in soil or water reduce water availability to the crop to such an extent that yield is affected.
WATER INFILTRATION RATE
Relatively high sodium or low calcium content of soil or water reduces the rate at which irrigation water
enters soil to such an extent that sufficient water cannot be infiltrated to supply the crop adequately
from one irrigation to the next.
SPECIFIC ION TOXICITY
Certain ions (sodium, chloride, or boron) from soil or water accumulate in a sensitive crop to
concentrations high enough to cause crop damage and reduce yields.
MISCELLANEOUS
Excessive nutrients reduce yield or quality; unsightly deposits on fruit or foliage reduce marketability;
excessive corrosion of equipment increases maintenance and repairs.
Table 1 GUIDELINES FOR INTERPRETATIONS OF WATER QUALITY FOR

IRRIGATION1
Degree of Restriction on Use
Potential Irrigation Problem Units Slight to
None Severe
Moderate
Salinity(affects crop water availability)2
ECw dS/m < 0.7 0.7 – 3.0 > 3.0
(or)
TDS mg/l < 450 450 – 2000 > 2000
Infiltration(affects infiltration rate of water into the

soil. Evaluate using ECw and SAR together)3
SAR = 0 – 3 and ECw = > 0.7 0.7 – 0.2 < 0.2
=3–6 = > 1.2 1.2 – 0.3 < 0.3
= 6 – 12 = > 1.9 1.9 – 0.5 < 0.5
= 12 – 20 = > 2.9 2.9 – 1.3 < 1.3
= 20 – 40 = > 5.0 5.0 – 2.9 < 2.9
Specific Ion Toxicity (affects sensitive crops)
4
Sodium (Na)
surface irrigation SAR <3 3–9 >9
sprinkler irrigation me/l <3 >3
4
Chloride (Cl)
surface irrigation me/l <4 4 – 10 > 10
sprinkler irrigation me/l <3 >3
Boron (B)5 mg/l < 0.7 0.7 – 3.0 > 3.0
Trace Elements (see Table 21)
Miscellaneous Effects (affects susceptible crops)
6
Nitrogen (NO3 - N) mg/l <5 5 – 30 > 30
Bicarbonate (HCO3)
(overhead sprinkling only) me/l < 1.5 1.5 – 8.5 > 8.5
pH Normal Range 6.5 – 8.4
Table 2 LABORATORY DETERMINATIONS NEEDED TO EVALUATE COMMON

IRRIGATION WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
Usual range in
Water parameter Symbol Unit1
irrigation water
SALINITY
Salt Content
Electrical Conductivity ECw dS/m 0–3 dS/m
(or)
Total Dissolved Solids TDS mg/l 0 – 2000 mg/l
Cations and Anions
++
Calcium Ca me/l 0 – 20 me/l
++
Magnesium Mg me/l 0–5 me/l
Sodium Na+ me/l 0 – 40 me/l
--
Carbonate CO 3 me/l 0 – .1 me/l
Bicarbonate HCO3- me/l 0 – 10 me/l
-
Chloride Cl me/l 0 – 30 me/l
--
Sulphate SO4 me/l 0 – 20 me/l
NUTRIENTS2
Nitrate-Nitrogen NO3-N mg/l 0 – 10 mg/l
Ammonium-Nitrogen NH4-N mg/l 0–5 mg/l
Phosphate-Phosphorus PO4-P mg/l 0–2 mg/l
Potassium K+ mg/l 0–2 mg/l
MISCELLANEOUS
Boron B mg/l 0–2 mg/l
Acid/Basicity pH 1–14 6.0 – 8.5
3 1 2
Sodium Adsorption Ratio SAR (me/l) , 0 – 15

Irrigation Water Quality

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What is the relationship between water logging and salinity?

irrigation water quality

WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS

- Sodium Hazard (Sodium Adsorption Ration or SAR)

- Carbonate and bicarbonates in relation with the Ca & Mg content

- Other trace elements

WATER QUALITY-RELATED PROBLEMS IN IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE

WATER INFILTRATION RATE

SPECIFIC ION TOXICITY

Table 1 GUIDELINES FOR INTERPRETATIONS OF WATER QUALITY FOR

Table 2 LABORATORY DETERMINATIONS NEEDED TO EVALUATE COMMON

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