Effect of water quality on yield and water use efficiency of irrigated wheat crop

The quality of irrigation water deteriorated in semi-arid region because of over exploitation of ground water. An investigation on effect of irrigation water quality on yield and water use efficiency of irrigated wheat crop was carried out on farmers fields at typical ravine watershed located at Etmadpur, Agra. The study comprised of Green manure (T₁), 25% more seed rate and fertilizer than recommended dose (T₂), T₂ + gypsum (100% neutralization of RSC value of irrigation water) (T₃), T₂ + FYM (10t ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) (T₄), and Farmers practice (T₅) were imposed. The results indicated that water quality had pronounced effect on soil physico-hydrological properties and affected the yield of wheat crop. Imposition of treatment of gypsum and FYM has improved yield and water use efficiency of wheat crop in all the three sites. Mean yield across different sites ranged from 27 to 35 q ha⁻¹ under different treatments. In general, imposition of treatment over farmer's practice (100% NPK) resulted in improvement of yield of crop in all the sites. Application of gypsum based on 100% neutralization of RSC value of irrigation water resulted in significant improvement of crop yield and water use efficiency of crops.