Irrigation Water Quality Based on Hydro Chemical Analysis, District Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan

Abstract

The global renewable fresh water resources are finite and are rapidly diminishing due to increase population at an alarming rate. This situation inclined the former community to switch over to alternative strategies. Water use practices in the country are not in accordance with water conservation and quality requirements. Tube well water is one of the most common resources to support the irrigation in situation of canal water scarcity. However, tube well water has its bad effects on soil properties and crop yield, 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. Tube well water quality is major contribution factor towards the low yields of crops in Pakistan, as it is not fit for irrigation in most of the areas. Total 17337 water samples were collected from all the four tehsils of district Rahim Yar Khan during the year July 2003 to June 2010. These samples were analyzed and categorized according to suitability criteria of water quality evaluation. 45 percent water samples were found fit, 11 percent were marginally fit and 44 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 strategy in view of catering the planning requirements for the future.

Keywords: EC, Ground water, Pakistan, Rahim Yar Khan, RSC, SAR.