SHWETA SHARMA* AND B. L. KUMAWAT1
Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University,
Bikaner-334 006 (Rajasthan), India
*(e-mail : bharadwajshweta2511@gmail.com; Mobile : 8824802975, 9828403446)
(Received : November 27, 2018; Accepted : January 22, 2019)
ABSTRACT
This study aimed at employing the quality of underground water for use in the orchards of guava for
irrigation purpose in semi-arid region of Rajasthan. Thirty water samples were collected from different
villages of Ajmer, Jaipur and Sawai Madhopur districts fruit orchards of guava to evaluate the effect of
underground irrigation water on yield and quality of guava. The irrigation water samples were analyzed for
various chemical properties like EC, pH, major cations : Na+, Ca++, Mg++, K and anions : Cl-, HCO3—, CO3-
and SO4— and for residual sodium carbonate, sodium adsorption ratio, potential salinity, soluble sodium
percentage and Mg/ Ca ratio. The irrigation waters were classified into four groups on the basis of salinity
(EC), sodicity (SAR) and alkalinity (RSC). Besides this, the quality of irrigation water was also categorized
on the basis of the EC, SAR and RSC into seven classes viz., good, marginally saline, saline, high SAR
saline, marginally alkali, alkali and highly alkali waters. On the basis of water quality criteria, the overall
irrigation waters of the studied area were grouped into six classes indicating that 40.0, 6.7,10.0, 3.3, 13.3
and 26.7% water samples fell under good, marginally saline, saline, high SAR saline, marginally alkali and
alkali categories, respectively. It was found that majority of the irrigation waters of the study area were
suitable for irrigation purposes in guava orchards.
Key words :Underground irrigation water, salinity, sodicity, classification, orchards