Available online www.jocpr.com Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2016, 8(8):185-194 ISSN : 0975-7384 Research Article CODEN(USA) : JCPRC5 Evaluation of ground water quality in rural habitations near agricultural activity by physicochemical characterization to assess their potentials for application P. Satyanarayana1 and P. V. S. Machiraju 2 1Department of chemistry, Pragati Engineering College, Surampalem-533437, A.P. India 2Research & Development Division, Pragati Engineering College, Surampalem-533437, A.P. India ABSTRACT Water is a significant natural resource which is vital for the survival of all ecosystems on the planet of the earth. Agricultural activities with their intensive utilization of agro chemicals pose a significant potential for negative impact on the quality of ground water. Expansion and intensification of cultivation are among the predominant global changes of this century. Use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has contributed to the tremendous increase in food production over the past 50 years. The purpose of the present study is to provide a better understanding of the impact of agricultural activities on ground water quality in rural habitations near agricultural activity in East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Impacts have been assessed through the systematic collection of ground water samples in the study areas and characterized for a range of physicochemical parameters viz., pH, EC, TDS, 2+ 2+ - 2- 3- - - TH, Ca ,Mg ,TA,Na, K, Cl , SO 4 , PO 4 ,F , NO 3 and also for determining the irrigation parameters to evaluate the quality of ground waters for assessing their potentials for application. The research results revealed that waters are slightly alkaline. Higher values of EC in case of certain water samples indicate their saline nature. Higher TDS levels indicate the presence of soluble solids in waters. Higher values of TH indicate the encrustation of waters on water supply systems and make the waters unsuitable for domestic purposes. Key words: Ground water, Agriculture, Characterization, Parameter, Application INTRODUCTION Population growth and increase in living standards and the demand for food production are the driving forces for expansion and intensification of agriculture. Out of the world’s total land 13 billion hectares 12 percent is cultivated [1].In the developing countries, this intensification under the general heading ‘the green revolution” which started in the year 1960 with the transfer and dissemination of high yielding seeds [2]. The dramatic change of agricultural practices during the last 50 years is also a factor for environmental degradation especially through its impacts on soil and water resources. In the last decades there is an enhancing interest in crop production system which optimize yields while conserving soil, water, energy and protecting the environment [3]. Water is a significant natural resource which is vital for the survival of all ecosystems on the planet. However, less than 1 percent of earth’s water resources are accessible to humans as fresh water in the form of either surface or ground water [4][5]. Problems associated with water quality are commonly attributed to nutrient, chemical and pathogenic loadings in to water resources as a result of point source and non-point source activities [6]. Surface and ground water contamination is mainly attributed to outdated management practices which include excessive use of fertilizers for high product yields, traditional irrigation practices, use of pesticides and poorly managed animal farming operations [7][5]. Fertilizers rich in phosphorus and nitrogen are added to soil to enhance 185 P. Satyanarayana and P. V. S. Machiraju J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2016, 8(8):185-194 _____________________________________________________________________________ crop yields. However, agronomic nutrient recommendations are often for in excess of environmental levels [8]. Application of nutrients through manures and artificial fertilizers often remain in the soil or leached in to the drainage water. Keeping in view the hectic agricultural activity in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, India, it is proposed to collect ground waters from the nearby agricultural activity areas and to characterize them for physicochemical parameters to evaluate the quality of waters and to assess their potentials for application [9][10]. EXPERIMENTAL SECTION The sampling locations are identified in the nearby agricultural activity areas selected for the present research study are located in East Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh and the details are presented in Table-1 Table-1: Sample code and Sampling locations Location Coordinates Sample Code Mandal HQ Sample Location Longitude Latitude Amalapuram Division A-1 Amalapuram(Rural) Bhatnavilli N16 035.5333 1 E82 001.992 1 A-2 Amalapuram(Urban) Savaram N16 035.369 1 E82 000.177 1 A-3 Allavaram Allavaram N16 031.988 1 E81 059.582 1 A-4 Mamidikuduru Pasarlapudi badava N16 031.316 1 E81 056.863 1 A-5 Razole Sivakodu N16 027.726 1 E81 050.191 1 A-6 Malikipuram Lakkavaram N16 025.757 1 E81 050.655 1 A-7 P.Gannavaram Mondepulanka N16 033.711 1 E81 053.020 1 A-8 Ambajipeta Machavaram N16 036.019 1 E81 055.528 1 A-9 Inavilli Vilasa N16 037.773 1 E82 001.423 1 A-10 Mumidivaram Krapachintalapudi N16 038.326 1 E82 004.949 1 A-11 Katrenakona Inapuram N16 036.561 1 E82 008.668 1 A-12 I.Polavaram Komaragini N16 042.114 1 E82 011.565 1 Ramachandrapuram Division R-1 Ragampeta Pedarayavaram N17 005.556 1 E82 008.421 1 R-2 Ramachandrapuram Chodavaram N16 051.058 1 E82 003.130 1 R-3 Rayavaram Pasalapudi N16 050.863 1 E82 001.049 1 R-4 Mandapeta Arthamuru N16 052.645 1 E81 056.723 1 R-5 Anaparty Ramkota N16 051.559 1 E81 058.323 1 R-6 Gangavaram Kunduru N16 045.325 1 E82 004.778 1 R-7 Kajuluru Mandal Kolanka N16 044.487 1 E82 009.778 1 R-8 Tallarevu Sunkatarevu N17 005.060 1 E82 003.204 1 Fig-1: Study area Map Polythene containers were employed for sampling and preserved for analysis by following the standard procedures [11]. The samples were analyzed for physicochemical parameters which include pH , Electrical conductivity (EC) , Total Dissolved solids (TDS), Total Alkalinity (TA), Total hardness (TH), Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ , Na +, K +, Chloride, Sulphate and Phosphate. pH determined by pH meter (Global-DPH 505, India-Model) and Conductivity measured by the digital Conductivity meter (Global-DCM-900-Model ). TDS is determined from the relation TDS = Electrical conductivity (EC) ×0.64. Chloride, TH, TA and Chloride are estimated by titrimetry. Fluoride, Sulphate, Nitrate and Phosphate by Spectrophotometer (Model-167, Systronics), Na + and K + by Flame Photometer (Model-125, Systronics). The irrigation parameters determined for these waters include Percent Sodium (%Na), Sodium 186 P. Satyanarayana and P. V. S. Machiraju J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2016, 8(8):185-194 _____________________________________________________________________________ Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Kelly’s Ratio (KR), Magnesium Hazard (MH) and the parameters are determined by the following relation Na +Χ100 Percent Sodium (%Na) = (meq/l) Ca 2+ + Mg 2+ + Na + +K+ Na + Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) = (meq/l) Ca 2 + + Mg 2 + 2 2- - 2+ 2+ Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) = (CO 3 HCO 3 ) – (Ca + Mg ) (meq/l) Νa + Kelly’s Ratio (KR) = 2+ + 2+ Ca Mg Mg 2+ Magnesium Hazard (MH) = X100 2+ + 2+ Ca Mg RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The analytical data related to Physicochemical and irrigation parameters are presented tables-2, 3 & 4 respectively. Table-2: Physicochemical characteristics of ground waters pH EC µmhos/cm TDS mg/l TA TH Ca 2+ (mg/l) Mg 2+ (mg/l) Sample Code Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Amalapuram Division A-1 8.8 7.4 510 749 326.4 479.36 70 140 100 560 12 24 17.08 122 A-2 9 7.8 1380 1440 883.2 921.6 110 140 160 460 32 32 19.52 92.72 A-3 8.9 7.7 2970 2530 1900.8 1619.2 150 240 230 540 48 16 26.84 122 A-4 9.1 7.5 1220 1600 780.8 1024 110 220 230 580 8 16 51.24 131.76 A-5 8.9 7.4 430 636 275.2 407.04 80 140 100 420 8 24 19.52 87.84 A-6 8.8 7.8 392 647 250.88 414.08 90 120 80 380 16 24 9.76 78.08 A-7 8.7 7.6 271 530 173.44 339.2 50 140 80 340 12 24 12.2 68.32 A-8 8.7 7.4 491 1030 314.24 659.2 60 160 100 660 16 32 14.64 141.52 A-9 8.7 7.6 593 891 379.52 570.24 50 140 130 420 16 72 21.96 58.56 A-10 8.9 7.7 916 436 586.24 279.04 100 120 120 360 8 24 24.4 73.2 A-11 8.6 7.8 763 1470 488.32 940.8 50 140 200 620 24 64 34.16 112.24 A-12 8.8 8.2 234 242 149.76 154.88 40 60 50 160 8 16 7.32 29.28 Ramachandrapuram Division R-1 8.7 8.5 1880 1810 1203.2 1158.4 110 340 330 700 4 32 78.08 151.28 R-2 9 8 428 462 273.92 295.68 80 240 70 240 20 24 4.88 43.92 R-3 8.8 8.3 393 426 251.52 272.64 50 280 100 340 12 16 17.08 73.2 R-4 8.9 8 403 505 257.92 323.2 60 380 80 440 8 16 14.64 97.6 R-5 8.8 7.6 235 340 150.4 217.6 40 340 60 320 16 32 4.88 58.56 R-6 8.6 7.6 553 785 353.92 502.4 50 340 90 520 12 24 14.64 112.24 R-7 8.8 7.6 2020 1180 1292.8 755.2 140 420 150 220 12 24 29.28 39.04 R-8 9 7.5 658 905 421.12 579.2 80 300 200 480 44 56 21.96 82.96 187 P.