IJEP 41(1): 34-41 : Vol. 41 Issue. 1 (January 2021)
Mobarok Hossain and Pulak Kumar Patra*
Visva-Bharati, Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Science, Santiniketan – 731 235, Birbhum
Abstract
Groundwater is a vulnerable natural resource. The problems of its quality for its designated purposes, such as drinking, domestic, industrial and agricultural uses are gaining attention, especially in developing countries. The present study was undertaken to investigate the suitability of groundwater for irrigational purpose in Bolpur block of Birbhum district of West Bengal. Major cations in groundwater samples were found in descending order as Ca2+>Na+>Mg2+>K+ whereas, anions were HCO3->Cl->SO42>NO3-. Water quality for irrigation was assessed through water quality parameters, such as electrical conductivity (EC), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Kelly’s ratio (KR) and permeability index (PI). The values of these water quality parameters were found to be suitable for irrigation. Major hydrochemical facies of groundwater of the study area were normal earth alkaline water with prevailing bicarbonate, that is Ca2+-Mg2+-HCO3- type. Local geological setting and rock-water interactions are a principal factor that governed the formation of groundwater chemistry of the study area. The outcome of the present study may be helpful to the farmers, researchers and policymakers to formulate an effective groundwater management plan.
Keywords
Irrigational water quality indices, Hydrochemistry, Piper diagram, Gibb’s diagram, Bolpur block
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