Water Quality Assessment for Irrigation in Tirukkalukkunram Watershed of Palar Basin, South India
Abstract
The present study is an attempt to assess the water quality of Tirukkalukkunram watershed for irrigation purposes. The quality of irrigation water has a significant effect on the soil salinity, growth and yield of agricultural crops. In general, water used for irrigation always contains different concentrations of dissolved salts which are generated naturally or anthropological such as domestic and industrial sources (Jarvie et. al., 1998). Hydro geochemical studies were carried out in Tirukkalukkunram watershed with the objective of identifying the geochemical processes and their relation to groundwater quality. Ground water samples in 60 locations were collected during post monsoon (January 2019) and pre monsoon (July 2019) seasons and were analyzed for major physio chemical characteristics such as calcium (Ca2+), Magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl−), sulfate (SO42−), nitrate (NO3−), pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, total hardness (TH) and total alkalinity(TA). Aquachem and Daigrammes software were used for statistical analysis and plotting of geochemical data. The results shows that during pre-monsoon period, fluoride, iron and calcium exceeds the permissible limit in one location, pH exceeds in two locations, hardness exceeds in 3 locations, TDS exceeds in 4 locations and Nitrate exceeds in 8 locations. During post monsoon period, Hardness, Calcium and Total Alkalinity exceeds the permissible limit in one location, fluoride exceeds in two locations, pH and Nitrate exceeds in three locations and iron exceeds in 8 locations.
