Evaluation of irrigation water quality under newly weathered soil in hot and semi-humid region of central India using GIS

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of irrigation water, assess the ion concentration in irrigation water and their source of origin and irrigation water suitability. For this purpose, water samples from surface and groundwater sources were collected and used to analyzed various physico-chemical properties pH, EC, TDS, TH, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3−, Cl−, SO42− during pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons. Quality of irrigation water was evaluated through SAR, RSC, Na%, KR, MHR, PS, PI, RSBC and also calculated the IWQI for appropriateness of the irrigation water. For the evaluation of hydro-geochemical process Piper, Gibbs, correlations and other bivariate plots were used. The spatio-temporal map was also prepared with the use of IDW method by ArcGIS 10.4 software. The surface water was found with Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+ in pre-monsoon, and Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ in both monsoon and post-monsoon period and groundwater with cation Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ in pre-monsoon, Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+ in monsoon and Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+ in post-monsoon season. While, anion was dominated with HCO3− > SO42− > Cl− in both surface and groundwater samples during all seasons. The Ca (Mg)- HCO3−type water was found in the study area which was originated through silicate weathering of rock–water interaction, evaporate dissolution, ion exchange phenomena and secondary contribution from anthropogenic activities. The KR, MHR, Na%, RSC, PS and RSBC were reported to exceed limit in few surface and groundwater samples. However, almost 75% surface water samples and 30% groundwater samples were having more risk to use as irrigation water and observed unsuitable for irrigation use based on IWQI. As, results the present study indicated that the surface water was more contaminated than groundwater which was primarily controlled by geogenic process and also associated with anthropogenic sources under recently weathered soil conditions. Thus, the current study suggests safely use of irrigation water with strategic measure and improve the sustainable agriculture production.