WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS AND SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT FOR IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE SELECTED AREAS OF DINAJPUR DISTRICT

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was performed to determine the chemical constituents of groundwater for crop production in Dinajpur Sadar Upazila under Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. Thirty samples of groundwater were gathered from different areas of Sadar Upazila for the evaluation of chemical constituents. The research work was accomplished to measure the degree of water quality and to forecast the suitability and acceptability for irrigation usage. Groundwater samples collected from selected areas were classified by examining chemical constituents present therein. Several parameters like Ca, Mg, HCO3, B, Fe, Mn, pH, EC, TDS, SAR, SSP, HT, permeability index and Kelly’s ratio were considered for the classification. In the study areas, the water contained an appreciable amount of Ca, Mg, Na and K. The concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B and SO4 were found within safe limit for irrigating crops. The pH value of all the water samples fluctuated from 6.16 to 7.51 indicating slightly acidic to slightly alkaline and found `suitable' for irrigation and public health. EC and TDS values of water samples were found suitable. On the basis of EC and SAR, all the waters were found low salinity and low to medium alkali hazards. As per SSP values of water samples, all samples were good class for crop production. On the basis of HT, 3 samples were moderately hard, 16 samples were hard and the rest 11 samples were very hard categories. According to TDS, 7 samples were moderate quality while rest 23 samples were slightly hard which were not harmful for crop production and public health. The water might not be problematic for the dual usage. All the waters under test were suitable and might be recommended for both irrigation and drinking purposes in the study area. It is suggested that water should be analyzed systematically for understanding the impact of dissolved ions on the quality crops and soil health management as well as public health in the study area.