ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY OF IKPOBA RIVER AS A SOURCE OF WATER FOR IRRIGATION

ABSTRACT
Surface water all over the world is crucial when it comes to the selection of source of water for irrigational purpose. Surface water is replenished from precipitation, water runoff from other forms of water source and melting of glacial ice. And it is also susceptible to all kinds of pollution (industrial, commercial, domestic, etc) which pollutes surface water and renders it unsuitable for irrigation.
The water quality index of the case study (Ikpoba River) was assessed by collecting eight samples from different points to determine it suitability as source of water for irrigation. In this research work, the physio-chemical parameters (such as pH, EC, TDS, CL-, etc) and other water parameters (such as SAR, PI, Na%, etc) were assessed by carrying out irrigation water quality assessment of the study area, geospatial analysis and SAR techniques were used to assess Ikpoba River as source of water for irrigation.
The laboratory and analytical results of the eight samples of the physio-chemical parameters coincided with the acceptable and recommended limit of WHO. The values of SAR obtained from the assessment of the eight different samples indicated that samples were less than ten (10), which indicates that it is an excellent source of water for irrigation. The values of KR obtained from the laboratory analysis are less than one which indicates it is suitable. The results of ESP obtained showed that samples 5, 7 and 8 are suitable while samples 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are critical. The result of Na% indicates that it is doubtful for use as irrigation. The IWQI results indicates that is excellent for irrigation.