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Irrigation Water Quality

The document discusses the quality of irrigation water, focusing on various criteria such as salinity, sodicity, and toxicities that affect agricultural crop growth. It outlines the classification of irrigation water based on electrical conductivity and sodium hazard, as well as the permissible limits for various constituents like boron and chloride. The assessment of irrigation water quality is complex and requires careful evaluation to ensure suitability for specific soil and crop conditions.

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siddhantray2005
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
7 views17 pages

Irrigation Water Quality

The document discusses the quality of irrigation water, focusing on various criteria such as salinity, sodicity, and toxicities that affect agricultural crop growth. It outlines the classification of irrigation water based on electrical conductivity and sodium hazard, as well as the permissible limits for various constituents like boron and chloride. The assessment of irrigation water quality is complex and requires careful evaluation to ensure suitability for specific soil and crop conditions.

Uploaded by

siddhantray2005
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 17

16The

for
Quality of Irrigation Water

concentration

irrigation use.
16
and compositionof dissolved constituents in
Quality of water is an importantconsideration
a water determine i
in
any appraisal of ality
quality

or alkali conditions in an irigated area. All irigation waters contain some salinity

concentration and nature of salts vary. The quality of irrigation water dependsprim.the t but

the total amount of salt


present and the proportion of Na" to other cations and on
certain
er
parameters.

Agricultural crops receive moisture for their growth and development mainly from
two
sources: ()rain wate, and (i) irigation water.

Rain water is
practically free from mineral matters, although it contains dissolved gases
(N, Ar, O.CO2 and NH3) obtained from the atmosphere.
Irigation water consists of (a) surface water and (6) ground water.

16.1. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF IRRIGATION WATER


Water quality is determined according to the purpose for which it will be used. For
irigation
waters, the usual criteria include
salinity, sodicity (sodium content), and element toxicities.
All these criteria are
being discussed here. Besides, many important criteria in assessing
water quality for other uses
namely,taste, colour, odour, turbidity, temperature, hardness, pH,
BOD (biological oxygen demand) or COD (chemical oxygen demand) nutrient contents like
N, P etc. and other pathogenic organisms are sometimes but not usually important for imigation
water.

Sludge and manure effluents have


high BODs and CODs and are undesirable for aquatic
life (fish. algae, plankton). Such waters would also be more rapidly of
depleted oxygen when
added to poorly drained soils. High BOD waters when used on soil can cause poor aeration

inadequate oxygen) conditions


faster than
would
low BOD waters. When sewage and industnial
effluents are used for irrigation purposes, various diseases to
pathogenic organisms causing
WATE 285
IRRIGATION
OF Free of
yaLITY needs to be studied.
viable pathogenicorganisms in the effiuents
ne
crops an irigation water
ftural d as
be used are considered
in
evaluating the quality of irrigation water namely,
uld riteria
of soluble salts or Electrical Conductivity
hazard ortotal concent
arious or concentration
hazard
Salinity
milliSiemenssm
(EC), or relative sodium concentration.
hazard
(i)Sodium
Salt index.
(ii) hazard-Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC).
Bicarbonate
HIGH
VERY
10
451100 450
30
C1-S4
28
c2-S4

24 c3-S4
C4-S4

C1-83
20

c2-63

C3-83
C1-$2
2-
c2-s2 C4-$3
10
C3-$2

C4-52

C1-S1
4
c2-S1
c3-S1
C4-S1

10 25 225
CONDUCTIVITY(mili Siemens meter -1
CLASS
HIGH
LOW MEDIUM VERY HIGH
SALINITY HAZARD
Fig 16 lower
of waters for irrigation. The best waters are toward the
One of several classifications
(Source: modified from LA.
etcorner;,the poorest waters are toward
and Improvement
the upper
of Saline
right.

and Alkali Soils, USDA Agr. Handbook


chards (ed.), Diagnosis
No. 60,
1954, p. 80)
ORY
SOIL
() Boron concentration
SCIENG
(v) Chloride concentration
(vin Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP)
(vii) Magnesium hazard.
(ix) Nitrate concentration

(x) Lithium.

Various permissible limits are being


proposed for each criterion in
of
assescime
imigation water. It
may, however, be mentioned that no sessingthe
classification hae
nas quali
that may have and may quality
proposed
conditions. The net effect
universal

of all
applicability
these criteria is very
work at all sites
anr
been
complex and requires carefiul under al
in the suitability of any
assessing irrigation water for a evalua
particular soil.
The modified classification ofwaters proposed
irrigation by U.S. Salinity Lahoe.
1954, (after earlier
classification given by Wilcox, 1948) based
and SAR values. The four salinity and four sodium upon the oratory
conductivity elec
hazard classes
Fig. 15.1.

Salinity classes. There are four classes of


salinity viz. C1, C2, C3 and
and +C2 of water are considered suitable for imigation
classes of water are not
suitable for
purposes (no
C4. Classes +
problem). C3 and C
Cc
irmigation purpose (severe Ca
problem).
Sodium classes. Low sodium water
(S)presents little danger of
medium sodium water (S2) can exchangeable sodium:
present appreciable hazard; whereas
(S) sodium water are considered high (S3) and very high
unsatisfactory as they can cause harmful
exchangeable sodium in soils. levels of

Now
various criteria for the evaluation of
irrigation water with
crop growth are being discussed permissible limits for
below:
)Salinity hazard or total soluble salt
salts in
concentration. The concentration
irrigation water can be classified in terms of soluble
of electrical
as +mSm (millisiemensper meter) conductivity(EC) and expressed
+
0.10= mSm'). formally as micromhos +
cm at 25°C (micromhos x
Water class EC Saltconcentration
Remarks
(mSm) (g)
Low salinity 0-25
0.16 Can be used safely
Medium salinity 25-75
0.16-0.50 Can be used with moderate
High leaching
salinity 75-225 0.50-1.50 Can not be used for irrigation
Very high salinity 225-500 1.50-30
purposes

(i) Sodium hazard. High


concentrations of sodium are
sodium adsorbs onto the soil cation undesirable in water
becaus
exchange sites, causing soil
(deflocculation),sealing the pores of the aggregates to break-dow
soil, and making it he
tendency for sodium to increase its impermeable to water flow.
proportion on the cation
exchange sites at the expe
Y or IRRIGATVONwWATKR
287
f cations is
of js estimated by the ratio
of sodium
cations
of other pes in the irigation water. This is
content to the
content of calcium
nesium called the sodium
adsorption ratio (SAR)
SAR Na
Ca Mg y2
eadiusted SAR
ium
1s
avalue
by their precipitation
corrected
with
to account for the removal of
calcium
bicarbonate and carbonate ions in the
magnesium
dd, giving higher values for "adjusted SAR" than irrigation
for SAR. The sodium
through SAR
as expressed hazard of
w atcr does not take into
accountthe effect of anionic
imgat
composition.

Water clas SAR value


Remarks
0-10
S Low sodium hazard Little or no hazard

S Medium sodium hazard 10-18


Appreciable hazard, but can be used with
appropriate management.
sodium hazard 18-26
S,High
sodium hazard 26 Unsatisfactory for most of the crops
high
S. Very
Gi Salt index. It is also used for predicting sodium hazard. It is the relation between
Na'. Ca and CaCOs present in irrigation water.

Salt index = (Total Na-24.5) [(Total Ca -Ca in +CaCO,) x 4.85]

where all
quantities being expressed in ppm and all values
of magnesium being reckoned as
caicium.

The salt index is negative


(-24.5 to 0) for irrigation water of high
quality and any
positive value
of thesalt index is harmful for irrigation purposes. The relative
degree on both
sides (negativeand positive sides) depends on the magnitude of the "salt index" factor

Bicarbonate hazard. The bicarbonate


(iv)
(HCO)anion is an important in imigation
water as regards calcium and to a lesser degree also of
magnesium as their carbonates in the
brings about a change in the soluble sodium percentage (SSP) in the
This
irigation
waler and therefore, an increase
of the sodium hazard. The residual sodium carbonate (RSC
Isused to evaluate the quality of irrigation water and is expressed in mel, +
RSC (mel )=(Co} +HCOj) -(Ca+Mg2)
RSC Value (mel) Water quality

1.25 Water can be used safely.

1.25-2.5 Water can be used with certain management


>2.5 Unsuitable for irigation purposes

oron concentration.
Dut the
It is evident that boron is essential for the normal growth of

amount required is very small. The occurrence of boron in toxic concentration


waters makes to consider this
in certain imigation if
necessary elemers
The permissible limits of boron in irrigation water is
quality. given in
in eswng
16.1
Table hewa
TABLE 16.1. Permissible Limits for Boron in
in
Irrigation Was.
Irigation Water
Relation to Different Categories of
er in
Crops in

Boron concentrationppm)

Sensitive Semi-tolerant Tolerant


Boron class
crops crops Remarks
crops

low <0.33 <0.67 <1.00 Can be used


Very
safely
Low 0.33-0.67 0.67-1.33 1.00-2.00 Can be used
with
Medium 0.67-1.00 1.33-2.00 2.00-3.00 managemenn

High 1.00-1.25 2.00-2.50 3.00-3.75


Unsuitablefor
>1.25 2.50 3.75 J
irrigation
purposes
Very high

(vi) Chloride has no effect


concentration. Since the chloride ion on the
propertiesof a soil and is not adsorbed on the soil complex and so hasit physica
generally not
included in moderm classification system. However, it can be used been
as a factor
tor in
water classification. some
regional

CI
Chloride (CI) concentration
(mei)co? +HCO3 +SO +CI+NO
Chloride concentration (mel) Water quality
4 Excellent water

4-7 Moderately good water


7-12 Slightly usable
12-20
Not suitablefor
20 imigation purposes

(vii) Soluble sodium percentage (SSP)

Nax 100
Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP)
Ca+Mg +Na
where all soluble catíons are expressed in
mel
Irigation waters having SSP value of 60 and above are considered as hamniul.

(vii) Magnesiumhazard. It is believed that one of the important qualitatve


cations,
cts
judging the irrigation water is its magnesium content in relation to total
divaced efecd
since high magnesium adsorption
by soils affects their physical properties.
Aharmful
I
on soils appears when Ca : Mg ratio declines below 50.

Mg-adsorption ratio = Ca2Mg


+Mg*
WATER
wALITY
OF IRRIGATION
onesium hazard
hazan
in imigation water is expected having Mg: Ca ratio more than
Magnesium
Nitrate concentration. Very frequently ground waters contain high amount
o
hen of iirigation water is applied on soils continuously various physica
such typeof
When such type
nitrme will be affected
very badly which causes poor growth of the plants.

Lithium. Lithium
is
animportant trace element which may be found in most o
and imigated soils. It has been found that small concentrations (0.05-
aline ground-waters in irig
rigation water produced toxic effects on the growth of citrus crops.
m) m)
of lithium
that saline soils of varying degrees found in India contain lithium
0.1
P been reported
also
has
hi,2.5 ppm. Fortunately the germination of majority of crops including rice, wheat, barley
pto with this level of lithium content in soils.
are not affected
etc for the of water considering various criteria is
quality irrigation
owe guidelines
However.
in Table 16.2.
presented

16.2. Guidelines for Water Quality Established by the


TABLE Irrigation
World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Water constituent Intensity of problemn*

No Moderate Severe
problem

<0.75 0.75-3.0 >3.0


(deci Siemens metre')
Salinity
of infiltration affected)
Permeability (rate
Siemens metre) 0.5 0.5-0.2 <0.2
Salinity (deci
soils are
Adjusted
SAR;
Dominantly montmorillonite
6-9 9
<8 8-16 >16
Dominantly illite-vermicullite
<116 16-24 >24
Dominantly kaolinite-sesquioxides

Specific ion toxicity

Sodium (as adjusted SAR) <3 3-9 9


Chloride 1) <4 4-10 >10
(meq
>2.0
Boron (meq I) <0.75 0.75-2.0

Miscellaneous

5-30 >30
NO-N or NH-N (meq I)
< >8.5
HCOg (meq I) as damaged by overhead sprinkler
1.5 1.5-8.5

6.5-8.4 0-5, 9.5+


pH

are in
Based on the assumptions that the soils are sandy loam toclay loams, have good drainage,
and
arid to semi-arid climates, irrigation
is
sprinkler
or surface, root depths are normal for deep soil,
the
guidelines are only approximate

Source: Modified from R.S. Ayres and D.W. Westcot, Water Quality for Agriculture, Irrigation an
1976.
Drainage Paper 29, FAO, Rome,
ORY
water can also be SOIL.
includes
Quality of imigation
both salinity and alkalinity classes
assessed by calculating
of irrigation water
the
Dn
and ale value. 8CVN
of
soils.
D value can be calculated based on salinity, alkalinity th
nd variextu
and The
etwal ya D
classes. So, D value is more appropriate to assess the quality of variation of
of
of
irrigatio soil
vatvaken

Soil Textural Class


water, tex
Weightage Value
Sandy 2.0

Sandy Loam 2.5

Loam 3.0

Clay Loam 3.5

Clay 4.0

Total I can be calculated taking salinity (c) and alkalinity


rom the
(s) classes fo
16.1
of quality of irrigation water
determining the value of SAR
after thefigure
figne

(salinity) of the irrigation water. Total II can be calculated by


(alkalinity
adding Total I and nd Ec
value of soil textural variation as give. weightage

Total I1 =Total I+ Weightage value ofsoil textural class


Therefore, D value =9 - Value of Total II

Rating of irrigation water based on D value


D value Crop
3 or more All crops can be grown
2 or more Semi-tolerantor tolerant crops can be grown
I or more Only tolerant
crops can be grown

PROBLEM 1

Adjusted SAR. In the earlier definition of SAR was,

Nat
SAR=
Ca2+Mg2* /2
where all cationic concentrations were expressed in mel.
SAR indicates
The the tendency for the soil to
become higher in exchangeablesoolu
higher SAR values mean higher exchangeable sodium percentages and lower soil
permeabln
If an irrigation water contains bicarbonate
(HCO) and carbonate 1ons,
tu (CO)
precipitale calcium and magnesium, which nto
increases the SAR. The formula,tak
account these changes, is called the
adjusted SAR. It is defined as

adj SAR=
VCa2 Mg*y/2
Nat

+ + (8.4-pH)
WATK
OF IRR
IRRIGATION 291
qUALITY
pH, =(pk'-pk,")+ pl 1+ p[Ca+ Mg"1
HCO
nd (pk,'-pk,")= Concentrationof Ca", Mg and Na ions
where Concentration
pHCO) of carbonate and bicarbonate
Mg) =Concentrationof Ca2 and Mg2 jons
PCa
late the adj SAR for an
irrigation water with these ions contents: 7 mel of Ca,
2 of
Mg, 5 mel" of Na", 4 mel of HCO, and a total ionic concentration of 14
mel

mel Some Parameters for the Calculationsfor


Adj, sAR Value
16.3.
TABLE
(meg/l) (pk'-pk,9* p(Ca + Mg) p(HCO,j
Jon concentrations
0.5 2.11 3.60 30
1.0 2.13 30 3.00
4.0 .20 2.70 2.40
8.0 2.25 2.4 40 2.10
10 2.27 2.30 2.00
20 2.35 2.00 1.70
30 2.40 1.82 1.52
40 2.44 1.70 1.40
50 2.47 1.60 1.30

Total cation content in water (Ca +Mg + Na ions)

**Sum of CO+ HCO3

sOLUTIOON
Interpolation to get values between those listed in the above table, (pk2 -pke) at 14
mel total ions = about 2.30.
The p( Ca* +Mg*) =(7 +2)+mel =9mel =2.35,
and p(HCO) =4 mel=2.40
Therefore,

pHc =(pka-pk) p[ HCO]+ p[Ca + +Mg2*]


=2.30+ 2.40 +2.35 (by putting the values derived from interpolation)
=7.05
Nat
adj. SAR =
2y+(8.4-pH)]
VCa2 +Mg?*
5
[1+(8.4-7.05)1
7+2)/2
2.36 [1 + 1.35]
292
INTRODUCTORY
SO
sOIL
2.36x2.35 SC
5.55. sCIENO

So adi. SAR of the imigation water is 5.55 rather than the


uncorrecto.
PROBLEM 2 orrected
SAR of
2
water contains carbonate
An irrigation
(CO),
and magnesium (Mg") ions 1, 4, 2.5 and 1.S mel bicarbonate HCO, (
sodium carbonate (RSC) content
irrigation purposes.
espectively.
of the irrigation water and give
Calculotam (c
commnente
for the
residual
e
use
sOLUTION o
RSC(CO+HCO)-(Ca +Mg)
= (1+ 4)-(2.5 + 1.5)
=5-4 1.0
So the residual sodium carbonate content of the
irrigation water is 1.0
with the RSC scale of irigation water classes and
(mentioned in the text) it is
by
irrigation purposes. found suitng

PROBLEM 3
An water having
irrigation EC value of 450
contains calcium (Ca*) and magnesium
mSm (milliSiemens Der ms
(i) the (Mg**), 2.0 and 1.0mel metre)
concentration of sodium (Na") in respectively. Caleul
mel and soluble sodium
the water
irrigation (ii) SAR of the
irrigation
percentage(SSP)
water Give comments f
of
water on the
irrigation

sOLUTIOON
From the equation it is found,

Nat BC (Ca2+Mg*)
100
where EC mSm
Na, Ca and Mg2* concentration =mel
Now we get,

(Na=450 (2+ 1)in mel


-
00 Soluble Sodium
Percentage(SSP)

4.5-3 Na x 100
Ca2 +Mg2* Na +
1.5 1.5x 100
2+1+1.5
15x 100 4.5
= 33.33
RRIGATION WATER 293
ALITY
OIR
SAR
Na
caMg y2
1.5 1.5
1.5
2D
2
/2 1.224

1.225

The irigation
water has no sodium hazard and it can be safely used for the irigation

purposes

PROBLEM4 contains 414, 120 and 24 mg


An irrigation water of sodium (Na"),calcium (Ca")
mel, (b)
d magnesium (Mg) respectively.
(e)
Calculate (a) total cation

EC
concentration
value in mŠnm, (d)
in

osmotic pressue
value irrigafion approximate
SAR of the waler,
water containing such soluble cations and (e) total dissolved salts in + mg
f the irrigation
water
r of the irrigation

sOLUTION
We know,
Total dissolved orsolublesalts (mgl)= EC (dSm')x 640

= Na where are expressed in


(i) SAR all concentrations
mel
Ca2+Mg2*y2
in Osmotic Pressure (OP) =EC (dSm') x 0.36 (in bars or atmospheres)

(iv) Total cation concentrations (mel) = EC (dSm') x10

414 mgl Na =414 Nat = 18 mel


(a)
23 me

120mgl Ca* = 120


mel
20
Ca =6 mel
24 mgr Mg? = melr' Mg = 2 me
Therefore, the irrigation water contains total cations

=(18 + 6 + 2)mel = 26 mel

9 Na 18 18
(b) SAR
yCa+Mg2 6+2)/2 4
Therefore, the imigation water has a SAR value of 9.
CTORY
26 SOILSC
fc) BC (dSm)=TotalCation(mel) 10 10
= 2.6
We know
1dSm 'at 25C=
100 mSm'at 25°C
I
amhos cm' =0.1 mSm
water has an EC of(2.6 x
Therefore, the imigation value
100)
260+mSm" or mSm
h Osmotic Pressure (OP) in bars or atmosphere
2600jumhos cm'

= EC (dSm)x0.36
or
EC (mSm)x 10-2 x 0.36

260(mSm)x 100* 0.336


260
100 x0.36 =0.936
Therefore, the imigation water has an osmotic
pressure of 0.936 bars
or atmo
(e) Total dissolved or soluble salts
=EC(mgl)
(dSm x 640 )
=EC (mSm')x 10x 640

Therefore the imigation


260x x00
water contains total dissolved
640 1664
or soluble salts of
1664 mg
PROBLEM5
An
mgt
irrigation
solubile salts.
water contains 1920
Calculate the
mg soluble salts and
drainage watercontains 2560
electrical conductivities
water in and of both and drainag
mSm leaching requirement (LR) of the
irrigation
irrigation water in percentage.
sOLUTION
Total soluble salts
(mg) in
imigation water

ECi (mSm)x 102 x640

1920 ECi X 640

EC. (mSm')= 1920 y 920x100


640 300
Again, EC (mSm')=2560x100 = 400
640
RRIGATTON WATER 296
ONIR
AuTY
efore. Leaching requirement (LR) of the imigation water (in peroentage)

EC 300
x
100 100 75
FCa 400

BRACKISH WATER
16.2.
h water is water that has more as much as seawater
salinity than fresh water, but not
water
Bracki from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries, or it may occur in
result
may
fossil
ckish fossil
aquifers. The word comes from the Middle Dutch root "brak",meani

salty". Certain
human activities can produce brackish water, in certan
or "sal particular
alten" such as dikes and the of to produce
engincering projects flooding coastal marshland
il engineering waste
water pools for freshwater prawn farming.Brackish water is also the primary
tof ckish
the salinity gradient power process. Because brackish water is hostile
terrestrial plant species, without appropriate
to the

is damaging to
of most
of management it

rowth

the environment.
Technically, brackish
water contains between and 30 grams of salt perlitre -more
0.5

as 0.5 to 30 parts a
per thousand (p or %o). Thus, brackish covers
often expressed
and is not a precisely defined condition. It is
nge of salinity regimes considered characteristic
brackish surtace waters that their salinity can very considerably over space and/or
of many

time
habitats
Brackish water
water is water that has more salinity than fresh but
Brackish water or briny water, not
It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in
estuaries.
as much as seawater.
brackish
in brackish fossil aquifers. Certain human activities can produce
or it may occur
certain civil engineering projects such as dikes and the flooding of
coastal
water, in particular
brackish water pools for freshwater prawn farming. Brackish
water is
marshland to produce
water
also the primary
waste product of the salinity gradient power process. Because brackish
plant species, without appropriate management
it

is hostile to the growth of most terrestrial

is damaging to the environment.

Technically, brackish water contains between 0.5 and 30 grams of salt per litre-more
often expressed as 0.5 to 30 parts per thousand (ppt or eo). Thus, brackish covers a range
not considered defined condition. It is characteristic of
a precisely
of
salinity regimes and is

can vary considerably over space and/or time.


many brackish surface waters that their salinity

Water based on dissolved salts


salinity
water Saline water Brine
water Brackish
Fresh

<0.05% 0.05-39% 3.5% 5%


Estuaries
occurs when fresh water meets sea water. In fact
Brackish water condition commonly
water habitats worldwide are estuaries, where a river meets the
the most extensive brackish
sea.
This

anadromous
ype of
of river estuaries.
and

social groups and


ecological

catadromous
succession from a
River estuaries
fish
to adjust to the
species, such as salmon
fresh

and eels,

changes in salinity. Salmon are


water
marine ecou
fom important staging points durinotem
to

giving the
anadromou
ue
yStem is
SCIENO
i
yypiea
migration
ime
e
sOlL

live in the sea but ascend rivers to spawn; cels are catadromous, living in tiu heanin
rivers eaning
but returning to the sea to breed. Besides the species that migrate and hey
through
other fish that use them as "nursery grounds" for or streams
many spawning as estuaries, he
places you thete
feed and grow before
moving elsewhere. Estuaries are also
commonly used as at
asfc fish
and as places for fish farming or ranching. fishing
grOunds

Mangroves
Another important brackish water habitat is the
mangrove swamp or mano
not all,
mangrove swamps fringe estuaries and lagoons where
though the sali Many
with each tide. Among the most
specialised residents of mangrove y Many,
forests are
fish that forage for food on land, and archer
fish, perch-like
mud-schanges
fish that
"spit" at -skippers,
other small animals
living in the trees, knocking them into the water
where they
Like estuarnes, mangrove swamps are can be and
they can
extremely important breeding grounds eaten.
with species such as forman
snappers,halfbeaks, and tarpon spawning or many
Besidesfish, numerous other animals use maturing amono,
mangroves, including such specialists as the
crocodile, American crocodile sal
proboscis monkey, diamondback terrapin, and the
crab-eat
frog, Fejervarya concrivora
(formerly Rana cancrivora). Mangroves
represent importans
nesting site for numerous birds
groups such as herons,storks, spoonbills,
ibises, kingfishe
shorebirds and seabirds. ers,

Although often plagued with mosquitoes and other insects that


make them
for humans, mangrove unpleasant
swamps are very important buffer zones between land
are a natural defense and sea. and
against hurricane and tsunami in
damage particular.
The Sundarbans and Bhitarkanika
mangroves are two of the large
the world, both on the coast of the mangrove forests in
of Bay Bengal.
Brackish seas and lakes
Some seas and lakes are brackish. The Baltic Sea is a
brackish sea
Sea. Originally the confluence of two adjoining the North
major river
it has been systems prior to the Pleistocene, since that
flooded by the North Sea but
still receives so much
lands that the water is freshwater from
the
brackish. Because the adjacent
salt water coming in from the sea is
freshwater, the water in the Baltic denser than
is stratified, with
salt water at the
at the
top. Limited
bottom and freshwater
occurs
mixing because of the lack of tides
the fish fauna at the surface is and storms, with the result that
freshwater in
marine. Cod are an composition while that lower down in more
example of a
species only found in deep water in the
are confined to the less saline Baltic, while pike
surface waters.
The Caspian Sea is the world's
largest lake and contains brackish
about one-third that of normal water with a salinity
seawater.The is famous
Caspian for its peculiar animal
including one of the few non-marine seals fauna
(the Caspian seal) and the
source of caviar. great a major sturgeons,
IRRIGATION WATRR 297
Oo
qnLTY Sea the
itl surface water is brackish with an average
Black
In the salinity of about 17-18
and compared to 50 to 40 for the oceans. The deep, anoxic water of the Black
perthousand
es from warm, salty water of the
parts Mediterranean.

Sea
originates
Osmosis ms can be used to
system: remove both salts and organic materials from
Reverse
Kater, communities with limited
water, enab
enabling fresh water to increase
kish potable water for
brackis Long lasting, highly efficient membranes reduce
inhabitants. demineralization and
their
costs.
desalination
he oreservation of the
effectiveness and life
span of a Reverse Osmosis (RO)
ent is required. A
a sufficient pre-treatment proper selection of pre-treatment methods
will and extend the life
water will improve affectivity
installat
span of the system by preventing
for feed and
mizing biofouling,
bic scaling membrane plugging.
or minimizing
aprform an uninterrupted and reliable pre-treatment of the feed water a
special
is used. A
pr
pre-treatment that is not
geared to the installation may cause a
proach system
is occurs the system parts need
this
oad. When cleaning much more often to restore
otivity and salt retention. Cleaning costs, system performance and standstill time are
in that situation.
very significant

The kind of pre-treatment system that is used greatly depends on feed water quality.
sufficient feed water pre-treatment
Consequentially, is dependent on :
.The source of the feed water
.The composition of the feed water
The function of the feed water

When the source of the feed water that needs treatment


is specified, a complete and

exact water analysis performed. This action is an important step for the design of a pre-
is

system and the entire Reverse Osmosis system, because this often determines the
type and size of the pre-treatment.

.WaterTreatment Systems
.Reverse Osmosis Systems
- Technical Specifications
.Nanofiltration
- Technical Specifications
.Ultrafiltration/Microfiltration

Electrodionization (EDI)
.Carbon Filtration
Multimedia Filtration A
Disinfection and Sterilization
- Ozone
Systems
- UV
Systems
Water Types Treated
- Salt water
- Brackish water
998
INTRODUCTORY
sOIL
Eluent NCTRN
ING
Potable water
Process water

Applications
Power plants
Beverage
rinking water
Pharmaceutical water
Components and Supplies
-Membranes
Fiters
Pumps
16.3. AGRONOMIC PRACTICES FOR USE OF PROBLEMATIC
EFFLUENT AND SEWAGE WATER WATER.sALe
R-SALINE,

Quality of irigation water


Whatever may be the source of imigation water viz. river, canal,
tank, open well ortut.
well, some soluble salts are always dissolved in it. The main soluble
constituent in wato
Ca. Mg. Na and K as cations and chloride, sulphate bicarbonate and carbonate as
re
However ions of other anione
elements such as
lithium, silicon, bromine, iodine,
copper, cohalt
fluorine. horon. titanium,
vanadium, barium, arsenic, antimony,
beryllium,chromium
manganese, lead, selenium phosphate and organic matter are also
present. Among the soluble
constituents, calcium, sodium,
sulphate, bicarbonate and boron are important in
the quality of determining
irigation water and its suitability for irrigation
purposes.However other factors
such as soil texture,
permeability. drainage, type of crop etc., are equally
the important in
determining suitability of irrigation water. The following are the most common
that resut from problems
using poor quality water.
1. If the total quantity
Salinity. of salts in the water is high, the salts will
irrigation
accumulate the crop root zone and
in
affect the
crop growth and yield. Excess salt condition
reduces uptake of water due to
high concentration of soil solution.
2. Permeability.Some
specific salts reduce the rate of infiltration into the
soil profile.
3.Toxicity. When certain constituents of water are taken
in
up by plans which accumulates
large quantities and results in
plant toxicity and reduces yield.
4. Miscellaneous. Excessive
Nitrogen in irrigation water causes excessive
vegetative
growth and leads to
ladging and delayed crop maturity. White
deposits on fruits or leaves
may occur due to sprinkler irigation with high bicarbonate water.

Factors affecting suitability of waters for


irrigation
The suitability of particular water for
imigation is governed by thefollowing factors
1. Chemical composition of water (TSS,
pH, CO, HCO, CI, SO, Ca, Mg. Na,
and B).
299
OF IRRIGATION WATRR
of soluble salts or salinity
Total concentration
(EC)
2 of sodium
ancentration
ions, in proportion to calcium and magnesium or sodicity

(SAR).
boron may be toxic to plant in imits beyond
race element growth, if present

permissible.
of salt on crop growth is of osmotic nature. If excessive quantities of
The effect
5.
in the root
lble salts accumulate zone the crop has extra difficult in extracting
from salty solution,
enough water thereby affecting the yields adversely.

total of the extent to which exchangeable sodium


salinity depends
this,
Besides
(ESP) of soil increase as a result of of sodium from
percentage adsorption

This increase depends on sodium percentage.

, Soil characteristics
etc.
like structure, texture, organic matter, nature of clay minerals,

topography
characteristics like tolerance varies with different stages of growth.
sPlant of plant
The germinating and seedling stages are usually the most sensitive to salinity.

factors can modify response to salinity. Tolerance to saline water


9. Climatic plant
is often greater in winter than in the summer. Rainfall is the most significant
imrigation

of salts from the plant root zone. Temperature also plays a


factor for the leaching

vital role.

also play great role. Wherever saline water is used for


10. Management practices
of management practices which allow minimum salt accunulation
imigation, adoption
in the root zone of the soil is necessary.

The primary parameters that have to be considered to ensure effective irrigation

for salt control are the water requirementof crop and quality of irrigation water.
management
soil water deficit, to control salt levels.
Correct irigation should restore any

Points to be considered tor the management and use of poor quality water

of amounts of organic matter such as FYM, compost etc., to the


1.Application greater
soil to improve permeability
and structure.

to the
2.
Increasing the proportion of calcium, through addition of gypsum (CaSO,)
imigation water in the channel, by keeping pebbles mixed pure gypsum bundles in

the irrigation tank.

so that both the


3.
Mixing of good quality water with poor water in proper proportions
sources of water are effectively used to maximum advantage.

4. Periodical of matter and raising as well as incorporation of


application organic

green manure crops in the sol.


5.
Irigating the land with small quantities of water at frequent intervals instead of
large quantity at a time.
300
INTRODUCTORY
SO11,
6. Application of may
fertilizer be increased
slightly more than the
nornmali.
BCIENG
and preferably ammonium sulphate for nitrogen, super
phosphate and reui
Di ted
Phosphate (DAP) for phosphorus application.
7. Drainage facilities must be Ammoniug
improved.
8. Raising of
salt tolerant crops such as cotton, ragi, sugar beet,
paddy.
paddy,

.
sorghum, corn, sunflower, chillies, tobacco, onion, tomato,garden beans
and lucerne. beans, groundnut,
amaranthus
Use of poor quality water
Besides the salinity and alkalinity hazard of water, some industrial
effluents and
water are also problem water that can be reused
by proper treatment. The
of industries and urbanization comple wage
(Urban development) leads to massive
increase in wast h
in the form
of sewage and effluent. Waste water supplies not only nutrient but
also son
elements such as total solids of chloride,
carbonate, bicarbonate,
me to
sulphate, sodium chromi
calcium magnesium, etc., in
high concentration. Besides this the effluent or
creates BOD (Bio-chemical waste
Oxygen Demand). These waste water when used
leads to surface and sub-surface for irigati
source of pollution due to horizontal and tion
vertical seenae
Waste-water Utilization
It is estimated that
A.D. Hence
2,87,000 million m of waste-water can be
reusable during 2.000
this waste water can be treated as follows
properly
Dilute with good water
quality in the ratio
of 50 : 50 or 75: 25.
Altermate irigation with waste water and
good quality water.
Treat the effluent water through fill and draw
tanks, lime tank,
settling tank, equalization tank,
sludge removal tank, aerobic and anaerobic
treatment tanks etc.

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