Evaluation of irrigation water quality from major water sources in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Irrigation agriculture depends on adequate supply of desired quality water, suitable for the soil and the crops in an agricultural area. This study was carried out to determine the quality and suitability of different water sources in Gboko for irrigation. The water samples for this study were collected from streams, boreholes and hand dug wells in selected district of high agricultural activities in the area under study. The samples were collected in clean PVC bottles which were rinsed with distilled water and dilute HNO3. Physicochemical properties of the samples, including, pH, EC, Temperature, TDS, TSS, and hydrogeochemical properties ( Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Na+ ) were
determined. Sodium percentage (SP), Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and Kelly’s ratio (KR) were calculated to set the criteria for irrigation water quality and suitability for use in the area. All samples were analysed using standard methods of AOAC and APHA. The study revealed that the values of pH, EC, Temperature, TDS, TSS, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Na+ varied from 6.80 to 7.02, 44.0 to 814.3 mmhos/cm, 23.86 to 26.50 °C, 153 to 225 mg/L, 72.0 to 130 mg/L, 40.0 to 72.15 meq/L, 27.2 to 58.6 meq/L, 18.2 to 37.30 meq/L and 21.38 to 31.53meq/L respectively. The calculated values of SAR, SP and KR ranged from 3.13 to 4.27, 31.52 to 47.49 and 0.201 to 0.432 respectively. The results
of the study showed that the water in the area is of good quality and suitable for irrigation of the soil for agricultural purposes and all efforts to maintain the quality should be sustained.