IRRIGATION WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF RIVER WUPA, ABUJA NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

Abstract

Irrigation water quality assessment of River Wupa, located in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria, was carried out. Thirty water samples were collected from ten locations along the river in Abuja. Irrigation water quality parameters such as pH, turbidity, EC, TDS, B, Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, K, Na, ammonium ion, SAR, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, chloride,bicarbonate, and RSC were determined using standard methods prescribed by FAO and WHO. The results obtained show 3 3 that pH (7.13±0.09), turbidity (8.73±4.35 meq/dm ), EC (0.247±0.046 dS/m), TDS (156.80±39.74 mg/dm ), B (0.10±0.043 3 3 3 3 meq/dm ), Fe (0.35±0.10 mg/dm ), Mn (0.12±0.13 mg/dm ), Ca (0.63±0.63 meq/dm ), Mg (0.26±0.02 meq/dm ), K 3 3 3 3 (1.64±0.20 meq/dm ), Na (0.001±0.001 meq/dm ), ammonium (0.39±0.11 mg/dm ), SAR (0.002±0.001 meq/dm ),3 3 3 sulphate (20.55±0.50 meq/dm ), nitrate (12.12±2.08 meq/dm ), phosphate (0.70±0.11 meq/dm ), chloride (40.96±3.53 3 3 3 3 meq/dm ), bicarbonate (0.23±0.01 meq/dm ), carbonate (0.43±0.03 meq/dm ) and RSC (-0.24±0.03 meq/dm ). The parameters determined had mean values within the respective safe limits for those parameters in irrigation water recommended by FAO, except for sulphate and chloride, which had values higher than the recommended safe limits. High levels of sulphates affect crop yield and production generally. Chloride in irrigation water at elevated levels is toxic to plants,affects plant function and productivity, degrades the soil and, under severe conditions, affects soil fertility. However, the danger that elevated levels of chloride and sulphate pose can be easily handled; therefore, it can be concluded that water from River Wupa is safe for irrigation.