Suitability of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation with Reference to Hand Dug Wells, Hantebet Catchment, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

The purpose of the project has been to assess the suitability of groundwater quality for irrigation purpose in the Hantebet catchment (24.4 km 2), Tigray region, northern Ethiopia. The total numbers of hand dug wells in the area are 154. Out of these, 110 are functional and the remaining dried out. Stratified and random sampling techniques were utilized to select representative samples of groundwater. Accordingly, twenty groundwater samples were collected from twenty hand dug wells for chemical analysis. Twenty soil samples were also collected from the command area of the hand dug wells from where the groundwater samples were collected. Both groundwater and soil samples were analyzed for Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , K + , Na + , CO 3 2-, HCO 3-, Cl-, SO 4 2-, and NO 3 besides pH and electrical conductivity (EC). Further, the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) for the both the groundwater and soil samples and Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP) for the soil samples were also computed. Out of the analyzed 20 groundwater samples, 8 show EC values below 0.7 and the remaining between 0.71 and 1.12 dS/m, and pH values from 6.55 to 7.26. Chloride ion concentrations in groundwater range from 0.435 to1.393 (meq/l); bicarbonate from 5.124 to 9.660 (meq/l); and nitrate (NO 3-N) values below 5 (mg/l) except in one sample that has 5.87 mg/l. In soil samples, EC values range from 1.36 to 4.65 dS/m (at 25°C) (mean 2.487), and pH values range from 6.77 to 7.79 with a mean value 7.20. SAR values are well below 3 in groundwater, except in one sample and in soil it ranges from 0.111-1.571. ESP values in the soil vary from 2.016 to 4.863. The results indicate that the groundwater in general is suitable for irrigation purpose. In the case of soils about 80% of the soil samples indicate no hazard but 20% are saline. The soils are free of sodicity hazards. However, i) to achieve a full yield potential; ii) to sustain it for long period of time; iii) to avoid the possibility of increase in salinity, and iv) to avoid the possibility of occurrence of sodicity and toxicity hazardous in future, proper irrigation scheme is required in the form of crop selection, fertilizer usage and suitable alternative management.

Identifying the effects of human pressure on groundwater quality to support water management strategies in coastal regions: A multi-tracer and statistical approach (Bou-Areg region, Morocco)

“…The emphasis is especially focused on regional and local studies on groundwater suitability for irrigation purposes, resulting in numerous investigations based on different hydrogeochemical tools and indices (e.g. Watanabe et al, 2008;Tadesse et al, 2010;Ravikumar et al, 2011;Romanelli et al, 2012). Nonetheless, studies on the impact of irrigation on groundwater quality are mainly related to the assessment of diffuse pollution impact on groundwater quality, especially associated with fertilizers use and farming activities (e.g.…”

Assessment of Some Physicochemical Parameters and Heavy Metals in Hand-Dug Well Water Samples of Kafta Humera Woreda, Tigray, Ethiopia

“…ese slight variations in the concentrations might be due to different levels of chloride salts in the soil and sediments or a result of differences in degree of wastes entering into the hand-dug wells [32]. e findings of this study are similar to hand-dug wells in Hantebet Catchment, Tigray, and Northern Ethiopia, varying from 15.45 to 49.44 mg/L [33]. Chloride value has a positive strong correlation with sulfate ion (r � 0.997) and nitrate ion (r � 0.982).…”

Evaluation of Hydrometeorological Characteristics in the Northern Ethiopia, Gerado Catchment

“…The result showed that the study area was found at lower elevation than Tita Meteorological Station. So, the temperature data from Tita Meteorological Station was extrapolated to the study area by allowing an increment of 0.6 ºC for 100 m (Nata, 2006). The mean minimum (min) monthly, the mean maximum (max) monthly, and the mean annual temperature was presented below in table 6.…”