Water Quality in Agriculture

Abstract

The parameters of water quality, namely, pH, electrical conductivity, alkalinity, nitrate, phosphate, sodium, calcium, magnesium, TDS, and TSS, have effect or adverse effect on irrigated agriculture. Impact assessment of adequate supply of usable quality water for the purpose of irrigation to influence the crop quality and marketability has a great deal with present art of agriculture. A number of water management technologies for various crops have been developed over years to enhance agricultural productivity as well as profit. The area of crops under irrigation was also increased substantially. The irrigation potential was created at the cost of huge amount of money. There is a large gap between the irrigation potential created and utilized in agriculture sector. The water management technologies developed so far were not also being practiced at the actual users end. There are some unidentified gaps in the existing system, which act as constraints on adoption of water management technologies. Appropriate interventions required to provide corrected measures to address the problems at the farmers field on adoption of water efficient management practices for growing field crops. The influence of irrigation water quality on crop quality, marketability, and mitigation options of adverse effect of unsuitable contaminated polluted waste water on agricultural produces needs more attention at present day of precision agriculture to maximize the net returns on sustainable basis.