Suitability Assessment of Surface Water for Irrigation in Galma Floodplain, Zaria, Kaduna State North Western, Nigeria
J. Aliyu *
Department of Soil Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
W. B. Malgwi
Department of Soil Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
I. A. Jimoh
Department of Geography, Gombe State University, P.M.B 127, Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria.
A. B. Shobayo
Department of Soil Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
M. M. Ibrahim
Department of Soil Science, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study was conducted so as to determine the suitability of these surface waters for irrigation activities within the Galma irrigation scheme. Surface water was sampled from nine locations along Galma river in 2014 and analyzed for various irrigation water quality parameters. Electrical conductivity, Total dissolved solid, Total hardness, Sodium adsorption ratio, Soluble sodium percentage and Residual sodium bicarbonate were used to assess the quality of water for irrigation. Descriptive statistical methods were applied to data on the physico-chemical parameters of water from Galma river. The water samples analyzed had pH range (6.75 to 7.04) within the normal range for crop production and very low (electrical conductivity 0.15-0.72 dSm-1). The sodium adsorption ratio values in all the samples were also very low (<0.4), indicating very low sodicity hazards. Soluble sodium percentage and Residual sodium bicarbonate ranged from 2.48 to 3.53 and -15.2 to -11.52 respectively. Base on Electrical conductivity, Total dissolved solid, Total hardness, Sodium adsorption ratio, Soluble sodium percentage and Residual sodium bicarbonate, Galma river was considered suitable for irrigation.
Keywords: Irrigation water, sodicity, nutrient availability, Galma river, salinity