Groundwater Quality Analysis and Its Impact on Agricultural Productivity: A Case Study

Ground water quality of twenty villages selected were from Karad taluka in Satara district was assessed during pre and post monsoon in the year 2017. The ground water samples were collected from bore wells and open wells, and their quality parameters were assessed for following attributes such as pH values ranges from in pre-monsoon and in post-monsoon, EC values in pre-monsoon and in post-monsoon of the samples. Most of the samples were found to be magnesium dominating in the pre-monsoon and in post-monsoon Ca2+ exceeds the Mg content in most of the water samples. The observation for post monsoon can result in Mg2+ toxicity which will be exhibited due to the continuous use this of water to crops. Cations and anions concentration varies in post-monsoon is Ca-8.251meq/L, Mg2+-11.05 meq/L, CO3-5.275 meq/L, HCO3-10.85, K-21.781, Na2+-8.73 respectively while in pre-monsoon Ca2+-9.625 meq/L, Mg2+-10.248 meq/L, CO3- 2.672meq/L, HCO3-8.762meq/L, K-13.092meq/L, Na-14.382meq/L respectively. Some parameters are analyzed statistically such as Mg Hazard, RSC, SSP, KR, RSBC, PI etc.to determine better efficiency of observations. RSC values varied from 1.1-25.2 meq/L in pre-monsoon and 80 % samples are under unsafe while 5 % are in moderate range, 15 % are safe in post-monsoon 1.1- 28.2 meq/L and 85 % are in unsafe, 5 % in moderate,10 % in safe mode, 5 % moderate, 10 % in safe mode for irrigation. SSP values in samples varied from 6.222-79.452 % (post-monsoon) to 6.671-72.84 % (Pre-monsoon); 35 % samples were good while 65 % samples were found unsuitable in pre-monsoon samples and 50 % good while 50 % unsafe in post-monsoon samples respectively. KR values in pre-monsoon observed 0.0303-6.22 meq/L while in post-monsoon it was 0.143 to 72.631 meq/L; according to Kelley’s ratio 75 % in suitable, 5 % marginal and 20 % unsuitable in pre monsoon while 65 % suitable, 5 % marginal, 30 % unsuitable for agriculture. RSBC values are observed in pre-monsoon 1.0-8.65 while in post-monsoon 0.f3-8.65 Permeability Index (PI) also analyzed it was observed in pre-monsoon 14.208-95.661 % in post-monsoon 15.327-71.549 was observed samples are under the categories of 15 % suitable, 55 % good (class II), 30 % unsuitable (class III) in pre-monsoon and 75 % good (class II), 25 % unsuitable (class III). The most of the analyzed water samples are under alkaline category; alkaline water should be managed carefully to avoid negative impacts on crops as well as on soil.