ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF WATER USED FOR IRRIGATION IN KWARA STATE - NIGERIA
Loading...
Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The absence of a dependable source and supply of good quality water has become a grave
concern among users of water for agricultural purposes. In Nigeria, irrigated agriculture is an
important tool for economic growth, food security and poverty reduction during the dry
periods of rain-fed agriculture. The concentration and composition of dissolved constituents
in water determine its quality for irrigation use. Water quality studies strongly suggest that
agriculture is a leading source of water quality problems due to pesticides and other agro inputs widely used by farmers to improve agricultural productivity. Poor quality irrigation
water would therefore obviously affect soil quality and crop productivity. A study was carried
out in 2015 to evaluate the quality of water used for irrigation in farm sites across the
agroecology of kwara state Nigeria. Water samples were collected from thirty locations and
ten locations were randomly selected from each of the three senatorial zones. The samples
were analyzed for water quality parameters using standard procedures. The results show that
some of the parameters analyzed were within acceptable limits. Others parameters such as
alkalinity, turbidity, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and Sodium
adsorption ratio (SAR), were above tolerable range for irrigation purposes. These results
indicate the need for the management of water resources for improved agricultural
productivity. This shows that the frequent assessment of water quality across Kwara State is
often desirable. There is also need for extension agents to educate farmers on regulated use of
inorganic chemicals and fertilizers that could cause water pollution. Industries and factories
capable of causing pollution should be located far from streams, rivers and water bodies
utilized for irrigation purpose.