Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of the groundwater quality feasibility zones for irrigational purposes through GIS in Omalur Taluk, Salem District, South India

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present work is employed in Omalur Taluk (study area 538.10 km2), Salem District, Tamil Nadu, India. Eighty-nine groundwater samples were collected during pre-monsoon (May) 2011 and were analyzed for major cations and anions. The irrigational parameters like; EC, Kelley’s ratio, sodium absorption ratio (SAR) values, Mg2+ hazards, HCO3 − and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) have been worked out to know the suitability of the groundwater for irrigational purpose. Wilcox diagram indicates that out of 89 samples, 39 samples belong to good permissible category and Doneen diagram revealed that 98.88 % of the groundwater samples fall in Class I. The plotting of SAR values in USSL diagram indicates that all the samples have low SAR value. Out of 89 samples, 44 samples were in C3-S1 field. This implies that no alkali hazard is anticipated to the crops. In 44 locations (49.44 %), samples fall within C3-S1 category. This category is suitable for irrigation purpose. However, the concentration of bicarbonate was in significant amount showing 82 % of sites under “increasing problem” and the 4 % sites under “Severe Problem” zones. Finally, the above-said results are taken into a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. To understand the spatial distribution of unsuitable zones, ArcGIS was employed. The present work reveals that groundwater in the Omalur Taluk is of good quality and is suitable for all uses including interbrain water transfer in the region.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Public Health Association (APHA) (1966) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 19th edn. Public health association, Washington, DC.

  • Baker Thomas R, Case Steven B (2000) Let GIS be your guide. The Science Teacher 67, no. 7: 24–26. http://kangis.org/learning/publications/science_teacher/print/tst 0010_24. pdf

  • Christiansen JE, Olsen EC, Willardson LS (1977) Irrigation water quality evaluation. J Irrig Drain E-ASCE 103(IR2):155–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Doneen LD (1961) Notes on water quality in Agriculture. Published as a water science and Engineering Paper 4001, Department of Water Sciences and Engineering. University of California

  • Doneen LD (1964) Notes on Water Quality in Agriculture, Water Science and Engineering

  • Durbude D. G., and Vararrajan, N. (2007) Monitoring and mapping of groundwater quality. Journal of Applied Hydrology, v.xx, No. 1&2, pp.22–30.

  • Eaton EM (1950) Significance of carbonate in irrigation water. Soil Sci 69:123–133

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frape SK, Fritz P, Mcnutt RH (1984) Water rock interaction and chemistry of groundwaters from the Canadian Shield. Geochem Cosmochim Acta 48:1617–1627

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garrels RM, Christ CL (1965) Solutions, minerals and equilibria. Harper and Row, New York, 450p

    Google Scholar 

  • Hem JD (1985) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water. US Geol. Surv. Water Supply pp.254, 263, USGS, Washington

  • Herczeg AL, Torgersen T, Chivas AR, Habermehl MA (1991) Geochemistry of groundwater from the Great Artesian Basin. Australia Jour Hydrology 126:225–245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelley WP, Brown SM, Leibig GI Jr (1940) Chemical effects of Saline Irrigation water on soils. Soil Sci 49:95–107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kimblin RT (1995) The chemistry and origin of groundwater in Triassic sandstone and Quaternary deposits, Northwest England and some U.K. comparisons. Jour Hydrology 172:293–311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Longley Paul A (2000) The academic success of GIS in geography: problems and prospects. Journal of Geographical Systems, 2 no. 1: pp.37–42

  • Mandel S, Shiftan ZL (1981) Ground water resources investigation and development. Academic, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Michael AM (1990) Irrigation: theory and practice. Vikas, New Delhi, 801p

    Google Scholar 

  • Openshaw SA (1991) view on the crisis in geography, or using GIS to put humpty-dumpty back together again. Environment and Planning, A 23, no. 5: pp.621-628

  • Pandian K, Sankar K (2007) Hydrogeochemistry and groundwater quality in the Vaippar river basin. Tamil Nadu Jour of GSI 69:970–982

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pawar NJ (1993) Geochemistry of carbonate precipitation from the groundwaters in basaltic aquifers. An equilibrium thermodynamic approach, Jour Geol Soc India 41:119–131

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ragunath HM (1987) Groundwater. Wiley, New Delhi, p 353

    Google Scholar 

  • Raju KCB (1998) Importance of recharging depleted aquifers. State of the art of artificial recharge in India Jour Geol Soc India 51:429–454

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards LA (1954) Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils. USDA handbook 60:160

    Google Scholar 

  • Saleh A, AL-RUwaih F, Shehata M (1999) Hydrogeochemical processes operating within the main aquifers of Kuwait. J Arid Env 42:195–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saraf AK, Gupta RP, Jain RK, Srivastava NK (1994) GIS based processing and interpretation of ground water quality data, Proceedings of Regional workshop on Environmental Aspects of Ground water Development, Oct. 17–19, Kurukshetra, India

  • Som SK, Bhattacharya AK (1992) Groundwater geochemistry of recent weathering at Panchpatmali bauxite bearing plateau. Koraput district, Orissa Jour Geol Soc India 40:453–461

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stumm W, Morgan JJ (1970) Aquatic chemistry. Wiley, New York, 1022p

    Google Scholar 

  • Sui Daniel, and Richard Morrill. (2004) Computers and geography: From automated geography to digital earth. In Geography and Technology, edited by Stanley, D., Brunn Susan, L., Cutter, and J.W. Harrington, JR. Dordrecht, NL: Kluwer

  • Swaine S, Schneider PJ (1971) The chemistry of surface water in prairie ponds. Am Chem Soc Adv Chem Ser 106:99–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Todd DK (1980) Groundwater hydrology, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel AI (1968) A text book of quantitative inorganic analysis including elementary analysis. 3rd edn, elbs/Iongman. Livingstone, Churchill, p 121

  • Wicks CM, Herman JS (1994) The effect of a confining unit on the geochemical evolution of groundwater in the Upper Floridan aquifer system. Jour Hydrology 153:139–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox L.V (1955) Classification and use of irrigation waters. US Department of Agriculture, Arc 969, Washington DC.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Jayam College of Engineering and Technology, Dharmapuri, 636 813, India

    D. Karunanidhi

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, K S Rangasamy College of Technology (Autonomous), Tiruchungode, 637 215, India

    G. Vennila

  3. Department of Geology, Periyar University, Periyar Palkalai Nagar, Salem, 636 011, India

    M. Suresh

  4. Hydrogeology Group, National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Department of Space, Government of India, Balanagar, Hyderabad, 500 037, India

    S. K. Subramanian

Authors
  1. D. Karunanidhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. Vennila
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Suresh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. K. Subramanian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Karunanidhi.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Karunanidhi, D., Vennila, G., Suresh, M. et al. Evaluation of the groundwater quality feasibility zones for irrigational purposes through GIS in Omalur Taluk, Salem District, South India. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 7320–7333 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1746-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1746-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation