Journal of FARM SCIENCES, Vol 28, No 2 (2015)

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Assessment of groundwater quality under semi-arid micro-watershed condition

R.S. Savita, U. Satishkumar, M.S. Ayyangowdar, M. Nemichandrappa, H. Veeresh

Abstract


The seasonal groundwater quality of the Patapur micro-watershed was assessed through existing bore wells in Raichur was studied. The chemical parameters namely pH, EC, SAR, sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca++), magnesium (Mg++), carbonate (CO3), bicarbonate (HCO3-), nitrate (NO3-), fluoride (F-), chloride (Cl-) and sulphate (SO42-) pertaining to groundwater sources of thirteen tube wells were analyzed during pre-monsoon (June 2013), monsoon (Oct. 2013) and post-monsoon (Jan. 2014) seasons. The periodical analysis of groundwater samples collected from the representative tube wells located in the study area revealed that the parameters such as pH (7-8.5), EC (0.83-1.32 dS/m), sodium (2-210 mg/l) potassium (0.3-14.5 mg/l), nitrate (1.1-10.6 mg/l) and sulphates (0.4-10.6 mg/l) were within the permissible limits and there are no abnormal changes during the study barring minor variation in few wells during pre-monsoon. The parameters such as SAR (0.22-23), calcium (36-960 mg/l), magnesium (43-518 mg/l), carbonates (34-370 mg/l), fluoride (0.8-2.3 mg/l) and bicarbonates (62-592 mg/l) varied rapidly during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon. Therefore, tube well water for irrigation parameters needs to be monitored on continuous basis to maintain the soil health in the study area.

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