Assessment of Water Suitability for Irrigation in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Assessment of Water Suitability for Irrigation in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

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Author(s)

Author(s): Christopher Onosemuode, Tega L. Ataikiru, Osayomwanbor E. Oghama

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DOI: 10.18483/ijSci.998 338 1024 11-19 Volume 5 - Jul 2016

Abstract

The assessment of water quality for irrigation was carried out on the Antau river and surrounding wells in Keffi. Samples were collected along the river course; 150m apart using standard methods and at five different points using the grab technique. Also, samples were collected from wells in the study area. The colorimetric and titrimetric methods were used for water sample analysis. These methods were used to determine the presence of several elements in the different water samples used for agricultural purposes. Electrical conductivity, pH, nitrate, boron, temperature, total nitrogen, sulphate, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and adjusted sodium adsorption ratio (Adj. SAR) were determined for the samples. The values of the parameters were compared with recommended standards. A comparative analysis was carried out between river and well water. The high value of total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity were indications of the presence of high amount of salts in water. Bicarbonates concentration was low in the study area with mean values of 0.6075 and 0.0153 for river Antau and wells, respectively. Low values of 0.0054 - 0.0283 (Antau river) and 0.0216 - 1.4257 (well) of boron were obtained in this study. The water from the Antau River and wells were classified using sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and electrical conductivity as stated by salinity hazards United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as bad, marginal, moderate and good water. On the whole, well water was better than the Antau River but both sources of water can be used for agricultural purposes.

Keywords

Irrigation, Water, Sodium Adsorption Ratio, Suitability

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International Journal of Sciences is Open Access Journal.
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License.
Author(s) retain the copyrights of this article, though, publication rights are with Alkhaer Publications.

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