Underground irrigation water quality in Muktsar district of Punjab

Quality of underground irrigation water in Muktsar district of Punjab has been studied on the basis of 2113 water samples collected from 225 villages of its four development blocks in a way that almost whole of the district was covered. On the basis of electrical conductivity, 44.4,35.1 and, 20.5 per cent samples fall in the category of < 2.0, 2.0 to 4.0 and >4.0 dSm⁻¹, respectively. Whereas on the basis of residual sodium carbonate 74.3, 12.8, 5.7 and 7.2 per cent samples fall in the category of <2.5, 2.5–5.0, 5.0–7.5 and >7.5 meL⁻¹, respectively. Taking into consideration both electrical conductivity and residual sodium carbonate 32.9, 35.0 and 32.1 per cent water samples were found to be fit, marginal and unfit, respectively for irrigation purposes. Nitrate-nitrogen concentration of these water samples ranged from nil to 40.4 mg L⁻¹ with a mean value of 7.80. Sulphate concentration of these waters varied from nil to 90.8 meL⁻¹ with an average value of 15.1. Soluble boron content of these waters varied from nil to 4.91 mg I⁻¹. Further 16.5 per cent samples of this area contain more than 2 mg L⁻¹ boron concentration and are unfit for irrigation purposes.