Quality of underground irrigation water in ferozepur district of Punjab

Quality of underground irrigation water in Ferozepur district of Punjab has been studied on the basis of 500 water samples collected from 50 villages of its ten development blocks in a way that almost whole of the district was covered. On the basis of electrical conductivity 72, 21 and 7 per cent samples fall in the category of < 2000, 2000–4000 and >4000 μmhos cm⁻¹, respectively. Whereas on the basis of residual sodium carbonate 66.2, 21, 8.4 and, 4.4 per cent samples fall in the category of <2.5, 2.5–5.0, 5.0–7.5 and >7.5 me L⁻¹, respectively. Taking into consideration both electrical conductivity and residual sodium carbonate, 46.8, 33.2 and 20 per cent water samples were found to be fit, marginal and unfit, respectively for irrigation purposes. Nitrate -nitrogen concentration of these water samples ranged from nil to 20 mg L⁻¹ with a mean value of 3.93. Sulphate concentration of these waters varied from 0.34 to 65 me L⁻¹ with an average value of 8.85. Soluble boron content of these waters varied from nil to 5.12 mg L⁻¹. Further 23 per cent samples of this area contain more than 2 mg L⁻¹ boron concentration and are unfit for irrigation purposes.