Irrigation Water Quality Assessment and Salinity Management Strategies in Bahawalpur Division, Pakistan

Abstract

Economy of Pakistan is agricultural based and it mainly dependent on canal supplies. Due to rapid population growth, there has been a dramatic increase in the intensity of ground water exploitation leading to decline water table and deteriorate ground water quality. Tube well water is one of the most common resources to support the irrigation in situation of canal water scarcity. Considering the importance of tube well water, present study was conducted for the quality assessment of tube well water to provide guidelines to farmer and researches for better crop production by adopting water management strategies. Total 1400 water samples were collected from Bahawalpur division during the year 2017. These samples were analyzed and categorized according to suitability criteria of water quality evaluation. 38.64 percent water samples were found fit, 7.65 percent were marginally fit and 53.7 percent water samples were found unfit for irrigation purpose. Majority of water samples were found hazardous for irrigation purpose. There is need to analyze the existing water resources and recommending comprehensive conservation and management strategies in view of catering the planning requirements for the future.

Keywords: Salinity, Sodicity, Ground water, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.