AN ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES IN KALTUNGO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA
There is growing need for irrigation due to scarcity of food and inflation in Nigeria. However, the quality of the groundwater affects the crops yield. This study assessed the suitability of groundwater resources in basement complex aquifers of Kaltungo and environs for irrigation purposes. A total of 40 groundwater samples were collected from hand-dug wells and boreholes during the peak period of the dry season. These samples were analyzed for major cations and anions concentrations. The physicochemical characteristics (PH, total dissolved solids (TDS), Electrical conductivity (EC), Alkalinity, Hardness, basic cations, anions (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3-, SO42-, Cl-, NO3-, Fe2+ and F-) present were determined. Irrigation quality indices models such as Electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), Residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Kelly ratio (KR), sodium hazard (%Na), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), permeability index (PI) and magnesium hazard (MH) were evaluated. The results indicate that a maximum of six (6) samples representing 15% of the samples recorded high values of SAR and were observed to be higher than the recommended limits for irrigation. Other Irrigation indices evaluated for all the samples are found suitable at 100% for EC, 60% for MH, 85% for SAR, 100% for %Na, 100% for PI, and 53% for KR models. Generally, the groundwater in the study area is suitable for irrigation, although sustainability of the groundwater based on its quality should be investigated so as to keep monitoring of the yield of the agricultural produce in the research area.
Authors : Mukkafa, S., Haruna, A.I., Kwami, A.I., Maigari, A.S., Usman, M.B., Yusuf, A., Bute, S.I., Mustapha, N.A., Ahijo, T.M., Ankidawa, B.A., Daya, M.G. and Abdulrazak, A.A.
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 10(2) Date Uploaded : 17th January 2025