Qualitative Study of Soil and Water of Ganga Canal Command Area on West Side (Right Side) From Purkaji to Muradnagar

Abstract

The present study was conducted in Muzaffarnagar, Meerut and Ghaziabad district along with west side of Ganga canal, with an aim of assessing the properties of soil and the quality of underground water for drinking and irrigation purpose. Soil samples were taken from depth 0-15 and 15-30 cm and collected from 19 different locations. The data of the study area were obtained from two sources, i.e. soil and water analyzed, and questionnaire was prepared for the farmer’s information about the study area, like major cropping system, various crops varieties, productivity, depth of water table, manures and fertilizers used and farmers’ feedback. The soil and water samples from every location were taken up to 5000 meters from the Ganga canal for every 1000 meters. Water samples were taken from the hand pumps and tube wells. The samples soil and water were analyzed for various parameters in the laboratory. For data analysis, excel and SPSS packages were used. The results of the study indicated that the soil were found to be neutral to slightly alkaline in reaction in surface while slightly to moderately alkaline in subsurface. The EC of the soil samples are found as normal in salinity at surface and subsurface. The soil samples are poor in available nitrogen, medium to low in organic carbon at surface and subsurface. Most of the soils of study area are characterized low-high-medium categories in fertility index for N, P and K at surface, while at subsurface characterized as low-medium-medium. Total N content of soil samples are found as high at surface while low to medium at subsurface. Available P content of the soil samples are found as medium to high at surface while low to medium at subsurface. Available K content of the soil samples are found as medium at surface while low to medium at subsurface. The surface soils are sufficient in available micronutrients while at subsurface characterized as marginal. Water samples are neutral to alkaline in reaction while normal (0.2-1.5 dSm-1) in EC. All water samples have falling within the acceptable limit of 75 mg L-1 for Ca, 30 mg L-1 for Mg, 200 mg L-1 for Na, 10 mg L-1 for K, 250 mg L-1 for Na, 200 mg L-1 for bicarbonate, 250 mg L-1 for Cl-, 45 mg L-1 for nitrate and 200 mg L-1 for sulphate . Carbonate was absent in most of the locations. 74.74% of water samples have < 1 and 25.26% have 1-3 Collin’s ratio. Water samples with < 1 Collin’s ratio are safe for drinking purpose and water samples with 1-3 Collin’s ratio are harmful for drinking purpose but can be used for irrigation purpose. All of the water samples have SAR values between 1.18 - 1.94. Water samples with low SAR values can be used for irrigation on almost all soils for all crops. The RSC values of water are negative and they are safe to use for irrigation. All of water samples have Kelley’s ratio between 0.41 - 0.58. All water samples with < 1 Kelley’s ratio are suitable for irrigation.