Assessment of ground water quality for irrigation purpose in Mansa district (Punjab, India) through GIS approach

Abstract

A study was undertaken to map the spatial distribution of different water quality parameters and generate water quality map for Mansa district using geo-statistical interpolator (Kriging). Geo-referenced groundwater samples were collected and analysed for different quality parameters i.e. pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Carbonate and Bicarbonate (CO 2-, HCO -), Chloride (Cl- 3 3), Total Hardness (Ca2++Mg2+) and Sodium
(Na+) content; and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) was calculated. Salinity and alkalinity hazards were evaluated using national and international standards and the overall, water quality was assessed to judge
its suitability for irrigation purpose. Quality of groundwater for irrigation was found to be marginal in major part of district Mansa covering an area of 200156.7 ha (92.3% of its Total Geographical Area) which can be used
for irrigation purpose only after some amelioration. Extreme salinity (EC>4 dSm-1) and alkalinity (RSC> 5 meq l-1) hazards were prevalent only in small patches in Sardulgarh and Budhlada blocks covering 26.7 and 2.9% of TGA of the respective blocks. Mixing of canal water with groundwater, use of suitable amendments, like gypsum, selection of appropriate crops and cropping systems should be in regular practice for improving the water quality in one hand and preventing further deterioration in other.

Keywords ground water quality, irrigation, GIS, Mansa