RESEARCH PAPER Asian Sciences (December, 2010) Vol. 5 Issue 2 : 102-106 Kali Nadi water quality status in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, India SUSHIL KUMAR* AND G.R. SINGH Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, C.C.R. (P.G.) College, MUZAFFARNAGAR (U.P.) INDIA ABSTRACT Water is the most important natural resource which needs to be properly and scientifically utilized for improving the productivity, environment and economic condition of the rural area. The present study is conducted to kali Nadi water quality status in town of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, for irrigation purpose. The Kali Nadi water samples were analyzed for their chemical properties total 2+ 2+ + + salt (electrical conductivity), pH, Anions (Cl, HCO3, SO4, NO3, F, B), Cations (Ca + Mg , Na , K ). Water samples total salt (EC) 0.32 to 0.98 dSm-1, pH 7.1 to 8.0, Potassium 4.6 to 11.73 mg L-1, Sodium 25.30 to 134.78 mg L-1, Ca +Mg 21.-57 mg L-1 to 63.46 mg L-1, Bicarbonate 154.33 to 475.80 mg L-1, chloride 13.14 to 31.85 mg L-1, Sulphate 11.45 to 54.78 mg L-1, Nitrate 6.82 to 58.90 mg L-1, Floride 0.45 to 2.81 mg L-1 and Boron 0.54 to 4.10 mg L-1. Correlation also works out between different parameters. The Nitrate, Sulphate, Chloride, Potassium. The correlation co-efficient (r) Among nine Kali Nadi water quality parameter namely total salt (Electrical 2+ 2+ + + conductivity), pH, Anions (Cl, HCO3, SO4, NO3, F, B), Cations (Ca + Mg , Na , K ) were calculated for correlation analysis. The EC shows good positive correlation with chloride, sulphate, Ca + Mg, Nitrate, bicarbonate, potassium, sodium and negative correlation with pH. Key words : Kali Nadi Water quality assessment, Irrigation purpose and Correlation INTRODUCTION due to natural recharge from rainfall (342.4 km3) and the potential due to recharge augmentation from canal Water is a precious, finite, and in view of growing irrigation system (89.5 km3). The distribution of demand, ultimately scarce natural endowment. India which replenishable groundwater resource also is uneven. Out has 2.45 per cent of the world’s land, resources has of the total replenishable groundwater resource from roughly, 4 per cent of the world’s fresh water resources, normal natural recharge is estimated 342.43 km3; as much whereas the country’s population is 16 per cent of the as 164 km3 occur in the basins of Indus, Ganga, world’s population. Most of the rainfall, 76 per cent as Brahmaputra and Meghna. In states of Andhra Pradesh, per India Meteorological Department, in India occurs as Punjab, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, the recharge a result of the southwest monsoon between June and from canal seepage and return flow of irrigation is September, except in the state of Tamil Nadu which falls significant ranging from 43 to 49 per cent. under the influence of northeast monsoon during October Use of groundwater is likely to grow in the years and November. More than 50 per cent of precipitation ahead because of the untapped potential in northern, takes place in about 15 days and less than 100 hours eastern and north-eastern parts of the country, as well as altogether in a year. There are significant variations in the ease and simplicity with which it can be extracted. the endowment of waters not only in different regions of This dependence on groundwater should make us worry the country, but also in different periods of a year. More about the emerging problems. Groundwater in India as than 90 per cent of annual runoff in peninsular rivers and elsewhere is affected by depletion due to overdraft, more than 80 per cent of the annual runoff in Himalayan waterlogging, salinization and other forms of pollution. In Rivers occur during months of June to September. many parts of the country, the groundwater extraction Consequently, several areas with high rainfall also exceeds annual recharge.Although water quality in an experience shortage of water in other seasons, because area is governed by many factors, yet, changes in land of the nature of topography made more problematic by use pattern, indiscriminate disposal of domestic and denudation of the landscape, compacted soil and high industrial waste in water bodies and application of runoff. In such instances, floods in rainy season may be chemical fertilizers is the main cause of deterioration of followed frequently by drought in the rest of the year, groundwater quality. with negative effect on economy and public welfare. In many cases, groundwater resources have been According to estimates, the replenishable groundwater rendered unsafe for human consumption as well as resource of the country is 431.9 km3 consisting of potential irrigation and industrial needs due to their poor quality. * Author for correspondence. •HIND INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY• SUSHIL KUMAR AND G.R. SINGH 103 Presence of soluble salts and the relative dominance of groundwater and subsequently of soil physico-chemical cations and anions in irrigation water affect the growth properties over long term use. and yield of crops and physico-chemical characteristics of the irrigated soils. However, magnitude of the adverse MATERIALS AND METHODS effect also depends upon the alkalinity and contents of Outline of study area : some toxic constituents in the water. Groundwater quality Muzaffarnagar is an important district in western in Yamuna-Krishni sub-basin of Muzaffarnagar district is Uttar Pradesh and the town Muzaffarnagar is the district deteriorating due to industrial and sewage pollution (Umar Headquarter. It lies between latitude 290 0 and Ahmed, 2007). The depth of water table, hydraulic 11’N and 29 43’N and longitude 770 0 conductivity and impact of vadose zone and land use 04’E and 78 07’E. It forms a part of the Saharanpur division and is situated in the interfluves of pattern serve as the major influential parameters in Ganga and Yamuna rivers between the districts of mapping the vulnerability assessment of groundwater. Saharanpur on the north and Meerut on the south. On the However, the impact of remaining parameters cannot be west, the Yamuna separates it from district Karnal of ruled out. Haryana and on the east; the Ganga forms the boundary Muzaffarnagar district is a zone of intensive between this district and the district of Bijnor. Almost all agriculture with cropping intensity of 149 per cent in which the villages of the area are approachable by motarable 57.4 per cent area is covered by sugarcane crop. The net roads. sown area is 325927 ha, 77.33 per cent of the total area of the district (Sankhyakiya Patrika, 2006). Sugarcane is Collection of water and soil samples : the main commercial crop, while the wheat and paddy Twenty five irrigation water samples were collected are the other important crops of the district. Traditionally, from the Kali Nadi district Muzaffarnagar during 2007- sugarcane is assumed to be a water-guzzling crop, requires 2009 in which depending upon the availability in the district. a considerable amount of water to flourish. Hence, The samples were collected in plastic bottles, which were sugarcane growing areas necessitate infrastructure like thoroughly rinsed with water sampled. The bottles were canals and installation of tubewells associated with the carefully corked, properly labeled and brought to the availability of mechanical power to lift the water for laboratory for chemical analysis. irrigation. The farmers in the study area have a tendency Kali Nadi, water samples were collected from the of flood irrigation, which requires a large quantity of water. irrigation pipes installed temporarily at different locations Hence, the sustainable growth of this commercial crop across the district. analyzed for their chemical properties and for other domestic requirements, availability of i.e. pH, total salt (Electrical conductivity), Anions (Cl-, adequate quantity of water in terms of good quality draws CO -, HCO -, SO -, and NO -,F & B), Cations (Ca++, Mg++, the concern of researchers and planners. With rising trend 3 3 4 3 Na+, K+), (APHA, 1998). All the analysis of ground water in population and increase in the small land holding was carried out in the laboratory of Department of Soil farmers, the study area is experiencing more demand of Science, C.C.R.(PG) College, Muzaffarnagar district agricultural produce, resulting in an immense competition (U.P), India by adopting the standard methods. among the farming community. To grow more agricultural produce, farmers have a tendency to apply more chemical fertilizers with flood irrigation to major crops like RESULTS AND DISCUSSION sugarcane, wheat and paddy which are prominently grown The electrical conductivity of study area ranged from in this region. The consumption of chemical fertilizers in 0.32 to 0.98 dSm-1 (Table 1). Maximum value of 0.98 the district area has raised to 108673 tonnes in 2005-06 dSm-1 of Amberpur (Jansth) location, while minimum 0.32 from 34194 tonnes in 1979-1980, an increase of 318 per dSm-1 of Husainbad (Budhana) location. The most cent (Fertilizer Statistics, 1979-80 and 2005-06). In context influential water quality guide line on crop productivity is to the availability of surface water, it is reducing day by the water salinity hazards measured by electrical day resulting in pressure to the groundwater resource. conductivity (EC). The primary effect of high electrical The recharge in this region is quite good i.e., around 20 conductivity water on crop productivity is the inability of per cent of the inputs (irrigation and rainfall). Hence, the plant to compete with ions in the soil solution for water increasing the possibilities of the recycling of groundwater (physiological drought) (Ahmed et al., 2002).