Assessment of the presence of metals and quality of water used for irrigation in Kwara State, Nigeria
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Date
2017
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Abstract
: In Nigeria irrigated agriculture is an important tool for economic growth,
food security, and poverty reduction during dry periods of rain-fed agriculture. The
concentration and composition of dissolved constituents in water determines 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. This study was carried out in
2015 to assess the presence of metals and physical properties of water, used for irrigation
in Kwara state, Nigeria. Samples were randomly collected from thirty irrigation sources
in three senatorial zones of Kwara State. The samples were analyzed for the presence of
metals and water quality parameters, using standard procedures. Results showed that the
highest concentration of Sulphate (7.0mg/L), Nitrate (8.9mg/L), Sodium (31.6mg/L),
Calcium (3.1mg/L), and Magnesium (0.7) ions were within acceptable limits. The
Sodium Adsorption Ratio, an indicator for water suitability in agricultural irrigation as
well as a standard diagnostic parameter for the sodicity hazard of a soil, was significantly
the highest (22.7) in Kwara North. Results of the study point to the need for an effective
irrigation water quality assessment to curb nonpoint source pollution that could be caused
by improper use of chemicals and pesticides by farmers.