QUALITY OF IRRIGATION WATERS AND THEIR EFFECT ON SOIL PROPERTIES IN RAJASTHAN- A Review

Abstract

Quality of irrigation water resources of Rajasthan and its effect
on soil properties in reviewed. General conclusion are that canal waters
are quite suitable for irrigation purposes and well waters of western
Rajasthan are more saline and hazardous than those of Eastern part.
Mostly the waters are of Na-Ca-Mg and Cl-S0₄-HC0₃ type but some
waters are richer in Mg than Ca. None of the water quality classifications
proposed so far fits under Rajasthan conditions. Saline water irrigated
soils are from moderate to advanced stage of salinity and alkalinity
depending upon the quality of well water used. As reflected from the
statistical analysis, lack of equilibrium between the irrigation water and
soil solution is responsible for the low degrees of predictability. However
better relationships are observed under lab. oralory conditions.